Crane, Ross, House
Also known as: Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity House
Why it's listed
Built in the early 1840s at the western end of Washington Street in Athens, Georgia, this two-story brick house was designed and built by Ross Crane as his own residence. Crane, a New Jersey native who arrived in Athens around 1830, became a leading local building contractor, and he later built the James Hamilton residence and the First Presbyterian Church. The house has a six-columned, flat-roofed portico with tapered square columns, a symmetrical five-bay facade, a fluted-pilaster entrance with sidelights, and a balcony with a diamond-patterned railing. Walls are load-bearing brick. Side wings added in the 1930s and interior changes altered the original form, though the central block and portico still dominate. After Crane's death the property passed through several owners, including the Marks family, then the Elks lodge, and in 1929 a Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter. It was listed as an example of Greek Revival design and a builder's showplace.
Significance in brief: The house is significant as the home of Ross Crane, a leading Athens building contractor, who designed and built it at the high point of his career. It shows his command of the popular Greek Revival style and served as a showplace for his work. Its later reuse as an Elks lodge and then a fraternity house is cited as adaptive use.
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 79000706, listed June 18, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 247 Pulaski St., Athens |
|---|---|
| County | Clarke County |
| Listed | June 18, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000706 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Ross Crane |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by a fraternity and used as a dormitory for members and as a site for meetings and social gatherings; interior altered and side wings added in the 1930s. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 33.95849, -83.38060 (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 79000706.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134286723
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.