Lumpkin, Joseph Henry, House
Also known as: Athens Women`s Club House
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Why it's listed
Set along Prince Avenue in Athens, this white frame house is a 19th-century survivor in an increasingly commercial area. It began as a two-over-two room, central-hall dwelling, thought to have been built by Charles H. McKinley and sold to Jesse Robinson in 1837. Joseph Henry Lumpkin bought it in 1843 and apparently added a Greek Revival section that nearly doubled its size and turned its front from west to south. The new front has a two-story portico with ten Doric columns, a small balcony over the entrance and heavy entablatures. Around 1906 the house was moved from a knoll four hundred feet back to its present spot nearer the street. Lumpkin served in the legislature, helped frame the state penal code in 1833, and became the first Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court in 1845. The Woman's Club bought the house in 1919.
Significance in brief: The house was the home of Joseph Henry Lumpkin, a Georgia legislator, framer of the state penal code, and first Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. It is also a good example of the monumental classical style common in Athens neighborhoods. It is one of the few surviving residential buildings on Prince Avenue, once an elite address now largely commercial.
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 75000581, listed June 27, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 248 Prince Ave., Athens |
|---|---|
| County | Clarke County |
| Listed | June 27, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000581 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Thought to have been built by Charles H. McKinley; no architect named |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Law, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well maintained and in very good condition. Used as an apartment, an office, and the meeting place of the Woman's Club. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.96062, -83.38228 (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 75000581.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6283932
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.