Chase, Albon, House
Also known as: Old Presbyterian Manse; Reed House
Why it's listed
Built in 1840-41 for Albon Chase, this two-story brick house with scored stucco stands at 185 North Hull Street in downtown Athens, Georgia. Its plan is nearly square, with four rooms around a central hall, and a low hipped roof with four interior chimneys. A one-story temple-form portico with four Doric columns carries an unusually faithful Doric entablature with triglyphs and metopes. Chase, born in New Hampshire, came to Athens in the 1830s, edited the newspaper that became the Southern Banner, helped found the Pioneer Paper Mill, and served as an agent for the Southern Mutual Insurance Company. He sold the property in 1860. From 1888 to 1906 the First Presbyterian Church of Athens used it as a manse. The exterior has changed little, though shutters are gone and rear porches are enclosed. The house now holds six apartments, and a former summer kitchen or servants' quarters at the rear has also been converted. Commercial development surrounds it, and a bus station adjoins it.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its simple classical design, especially its Doric temple-form portico, which is faithful to the classical model. It was also the home of Albon Chase, a prominent 19th-century Athens newspaper editor and businessman. It is one of few surviving 19th-century residences in the now commercial downtown.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 74002255, listed August 19, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 185 N. Hull St., Athens |
|---|---|
| County | Clarke County |
| Listed | August 19, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002255 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1840-41 |
| Architect / builder | Albon Chase (builder) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Communications, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now a 6-unit apartment building; condition listed as fair, altered, and threatened by surrounding commercial development including an adjacent bus station. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Downtown Athens Historic District (Additional Documentation, Boundary Increase II and Boundary Decrease) |
| Coordinates | 33.95762, -83.37895 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 74002255.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134286563
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.