Willcoxon-Arnold House
Also known as: Hillcrest Chapel
Why it's listed
Built around 1852 on the east side of Newnan, this two-story brick house follows the Greek Revival style, with a central hall, a four-over-four plan, and full-width two-story porticos of fluted Doric columns on the front and rear. Brick construction was unusual in Coweta County at the time, and the house is considered one of the finest antebellum homes in the Newnan area and the only brick one remaining. It was long associated with John B. Willcoxon, a lawyer, Civil War cavalry officer and legislator, who owned it from 1852 until his death in 1896. In 1866-1867 he built a cotton yarn factory that became a major employer and helped the town recover after the war. Later the Arnold family lived here from 1913 until 1950. A funeral home opened in the house in 1953. The property keeps its second-floor rooms largely unchanged, along with a historic barn and smokehouse.
Significance in brief: It is a fine, late example of Greek Revival architecture, with two full-width Doric colonnades and brick construction that were unusual in the area. It is described as one of the finest antebellum houses in and around Newnan and the only remaining brick one. It is also tied to John B. Willcoxon, who owned it from 1852 to 1896 and ran a cotton yarn factory that aided Newnan's recovery after the Civil War.
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 91000559, listed May 20, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | One Bullsboro Dr., Newnan |
|---|---|
| County | Coweta County |
| Listed | May 20, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000559 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1852-1896 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a funeral home (Hillcrest Chapel); converted from a residence in 1953, with first-floor changes made for a chapel. |
| Acreage | 7 |
| Coordinates | 33.38211, -84.79294 (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 91000559.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134289354
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.