Steele-Cobb House
Why it's listed
Built around 1855 by Michael A. Steele, this two-story frame house in Decatur is a Plantation Plain dwelling with a central hall, two rooms on each floor to either side, end chimneys, shed rooms at the rear, and a double verandah across the front. It is described as the earliest type of residential architecture in DeKalb County and a rare survivor in the metropolitan Atlanta area. Steele married the daughter of Robert H. Smith, builder of the Tullie Smith House, and the two homes allow a comparison of related building traditions. Steele's youngest son, Leslie J., became mayor of Decatur and a U.S. congressman. In 1938 Cully A. and Lois D. Cobb began buying the property, which they called Briarpatch. Cobb had edited the Southern Ruralist and served in the Agricultural Adjustment Administration. They added wings and bathrooms and remodeled the kitchen. Today the house sits within a subdivision on about two and a quarter acres.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a good example of Plantation Plain architecture, the earliest type of residential architecture in the county and a rare survivor in metropolitan Atlanta. It is also significant locally as the home of the Steele family, and later of agricultural editor and New Deal official Cully A. Cobb. It can be compared with the Tullie Smith House, built by the father of Steele's wife.
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 82004666, listed June 17, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2632 Fox Hills Dr., Decatur |
|---|---|
| County | DeKalb County |
| Listed | June 17, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004666 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by Michael A. Steele) |
| Architectural style | Plantation Plain |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; condition listed as excellent and altered, with additions to the rear and sides. |
| Acreage | 2.2 |
| Coordinates | 33.80443, -84.28114 (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 82004666.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134296281
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.