Wilkins House
Why it's listed
Begun in 1860 by Alfred L. Dearing and completed after the Civil War, this mansion at 387 South Milledge Avenue in Athens is one of a group of houses the Dearing family built when Milledge Avenue was opened for development. Its most striking feature is a deep two-story porch wrapped by fluted Corinthian columns carrying a full classical entablature, set above a stuccoed English basement. The plan follows the pre-war Greek Revival type of four rooms off a center hall. Later remodelings added late 19th century neoclassical details and Eastlake-style chimney pieces with Minton tile hearths, installed after Professor Leon H. Charbonnier bought the house in 1886. John Julian Wilkins, a leading Athens banker, purchased it in 1909, and his name stays with the house. The nomination values it as a cultural landmark and as a key part of Milledge Avenue's character. A trust required its sale by 1970, and a plan proposed that the University of Georgia convert it into a cultural center.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as one of the Dearing-built group of Greek Revival houses that shaped Milledge Avenue, and as a cultural landmark of Athens. It also cites the site's urban planning value and its association with banker John Julian Wilkins. The house shows over a century of architectural change, from Greek Revival to late 19th century neoclassical detail.
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 70000202, listed May 19, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 387 S. Milledge Ave., Athens |
|---|---|
| County | Clarke County |
| Listed | May 19, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000202 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Alfred L. Dearing (began building 1860) |
| Architectural style | Classic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in fair condition and unoccupied, held in a trust that required sale by July 1, 1970; plans proposed its use as a university cultural center. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Dearing Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.95116, -83.38656 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 70000202.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85815558
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.