Cook County Courthouse
Why it's listed
Cook County Courthouse in Adel, Georgia, is a two-story building of white brick and finished limestone, completed in 1939 and designed in the Stripped Classical style by Atlanta architect William J. J. Chase. The Ray M. Lee Company built it, with the Public Works Administration paying forty-five percent of the cost and the county covering the rest through a bond issue. The central block has a curved parapet, fluted pilasters and carved lettering on the cornice. Inside, glazed tile hall walls, original doors and fixtures, iron stair balustrades and a mahogany-paneled courtroom survive. A compatible extension and rear wing were added in 1973 and now hold the jail. The courthouse is listed for its understated classical design, its place among Chase's many Georgia courthouses, and its role as the seat of county government. It was also a major Depression-era public works project for Adel and Cook County, and it remains in use today.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a good, intact example of a Stripped Classical community landmark building from the 1930s and 1940s, and a work of architect William J. J. Chase. It has also been the center of county government since it opened. It was built with Public Works Administration funds during the New Deal.
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 95000714, listed June 14, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 212 N. Hutchinson Ave., Adel |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | June 14, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000714 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1939-1945 |
| Architect / builder | William J.J. Chase - architect; Ray M. Lee Construction Company - builder |
| Architectural style | Stripped Classical |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a courthouse and correctional facility; a 1973 two-story extension and rear wing were added, and the original floor plan remains largely intact. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 31.13916, -83.42503 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 95000714.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5166899
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.