Sledge, James A., House
Also known as: See Also:Cobbham Historic District
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Why it's listed
Built around 1860 at 749 Cobb Street in Athens, the Sledge House is a large Gothic-style cottage of one and a half stories. It has white stuccoed brick walls about eighteen inches thick, a tall steeply pitched roof, three triangular dormers and a front veranda with cast iron detailing and a concave metal roof. Inside, a wide central hall holds a stair behind an ogee arch, and the walnut doors and moldings repeat round-arched panels and wooden bosses. Cast iron mantels fill the rooms. The land belonged to Ferdinand Phinizy before James A. Sledge, editor of the Southern Banner, bought it in 1860. Tradition credits Sledge with building the house. It was listed because it is an outstanding Gothic example in a town dominated by Greek Revival buildings, and the only surviving structure of mainly Gothic inspiration in Athens. Wings were added in the 1880s or 90s, and the woodwork was painted white in 1950.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding example of the Gothic style in a town known for Greek Revival architecture. It is the only surviving structure of predominantly Gothic inspiration in Athens. Unusual features include the concave veranda roof, cast iron mantels and heavy walnut interior woodwork.
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 74000668, listed February 12, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 749 Cobb St., Athens |
|---|---|
| County | Clarke County |
| Listed | February 12, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000668 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (c.1860) |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, altered, on its original site, privately owned, occupied and rented to students; the owners hoped to sell it to someone interested in preservation. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Within district | Cobbham Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.96052, -83.39677 (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 74000668.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85770585
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.