Seminary, The
Also known as: Malone House
Why it's listed
Built in 1895 on Main Street in Lithonia, this two-story building has granite bearing walls 19 to 24 inches thick, a hip roof and, since about 1906, a double veranda with square twin columns. It began as a private school on land donated by Benjamin Franklin George, operating before the town had a public school system and closing around 1906. John Keay Davidson, Sr., a Scottish-born quarry owner, then converted it into the Auto Rest Hotel to house stonemasons brought from Scotland during a local housing shortage. About 1917 J.H. Malone bought it, added plumbing and electricity, and made it a family home. Two rear bathroom wings were added in about 1918 and 1962, while the hotel room layout and hand-painted room numbers survive. The granite reflects the quarrying industry that gave Lithonia its name and its economy, and the building's successive uses connect it to the town's educational, economic and social development.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is tied to Lithonia's social, educational and economic history, having served as a school, a hotel for quarry workers and a private residence. Its granite construction exemplifies the industry on which the town's growth was based. It is also linked to the George and Davidson families, who were important to the town's early development.
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 78003097, listed November 15, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6886 Main St., Lithonia |
|---|---|
| County | DeKalb County |
| Listed | November 15, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78003097 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895 |
| Architectural style | Stone vernacular structure (granite bearing wall with hip roof) |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent; the building has remained a private residence of the Malone family, with interior hotel room divisions largely intact. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Lithonia Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.71002, -84.10958 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 78003097.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q55886232
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.