Church-Waddel-Brumby House
Why it's listed
Built in 1820 for Alonzo Church, a professor and later president of the University of Georgia, this frame house in Athens was sold before completion to Moses Waddel, who lived there for nine years as the University's president. Waddel's arrival in 1819 is credited with reviving a struggling college and town. In 1834 the house passed to Sarah H. Harris, and her descendants, the Brumby family, owned it until the mid-1960s. When Urban Renewal threatened the site, it was moved in 1967 to a nearby lot. Architects studied the sprawling later house and saved only the compact original core, with two rooms up and two down around a central hall. Distinctive features include a soffit molding of drilled wooden blocks and a fanlight doorway with round-arched sidelights. Restored in 1971-72, it now serves as a museum and as an example of Federal architecture tied to the University's early years.
Significance in brief: The house was built by University of Georgia professor Alonzo Church and later sold to Moses Waddel, who lived there while president of the University. It is described as a rare symbol of the early days of Athens and the University and a rare example of Federal architecture. Its restoration also used the first Urban Renewal funds applied to historic preservation in the Southeast.
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 75000578, listed February 20, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 280 E. Dougherty St., Athens |
|---|---|
| County | Clarke County |
| Listed | February 20, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000578 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1820 |
| Architect / builder | Built for Alonzo Church; possibly the work of itinerant Peck family carpenters from Vermont (unproven); restoration directed by C. Wilmer Heery, A.I.A. |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in 1971-72 and opened to the public as a house museum; owned by the City of Athens and leased to a heritage foundation. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Old North Campus, University of Georgia |
| Coordinates | 33.96201, -83.37582 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 75000578.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q72940832
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.