Sorrells, R. P., House
Why it's listed
Located at 220 Prince Avenue in Athens, this two-story wood-frame house was built around 1907 by Dr. R. P. Sorrells. It combines Queen Anne and Neoclassical Revival features: a symmetrical form, Tuscan porch columns, an elliptical fanlight with sidelights, bay windows, stained glass and decorative dormers. Inside, a central hall is flanked by large rooms, with seven mantels, pocket doors, wainscoting and an elaborate stairway with a spindlework screen. Cotton buyer George Mason bought the house in 1913. It later served as a funeral home, whose coffin lift and crank system remain, then as law offices, and was rehabilitated in 1988 for a travel agency. A frame former servants' quarters stands at the rear. Prince Avenue was once lined with substantial houses, and few remain amid commercial development. The house was listed for its architecture, as a clear local example of two popular styles combined in Georgia towns around 1900.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent local example of the turn-of-the-century blending of Queen Anne and Neoclassical Revival styles, with the two styles unusually easy to tell apart. It also cites the fine exterior and interior craftsmanship and its role as a representative of the large houses that once lined Prince Avenue.
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 91002003, listed January 22, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 220 Prince Ave., Athens |
|---|---|
| County | Clarke County |
| Listed | January 22, 1992 |
| Reference number | 91002003 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1907 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Neoclassical Revival (combined with Queen Anne features) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitated in 1988 for use as a travel agency; current function listed as professional commerce. Earlier used as a funeral home and law offices. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.96062, -83.38206 (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 91002003.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134287514
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.