Eastman, William Pitt, House
Also known as: Bishop House; Bullock House
Why it's listed
Built in 1872 at 407 Eastman Way, this two-story gabled-ell house was the mansion of William Pitt Eastman, the New Hampshire-born businessman who founded the town of Eastman and Dodge County, Georgia. Local architect J.H. Russell, who also designed the first Dodge County Courthouse, designed it. The frame house has a pressed metal roof, weatherboard siding, brick foundation, decorative porches, paired cornice brackets and bay windows. Inside, the original pine floors, wainscoting, staircase, hardware, plaster walls and marble and wood mantels survive. The only noted alterations are electrical wiring in 1910 and first-floor central heating and air in 1985. A brick garage from about 1912 and New South landscaping complete the one-acre property. It is the oldest house in Eastman and the only surviving building tied to its founder, who laid out the town, promoted the creation of the county and donated land for streets, public buildings and churches. It now serves as a museum.
Significance in brief: It is the oldest house in Eastman and the only surviving resource linked to William Pitt Eastman, founder of Eastman and Dodge County. It is also an intact and unusual example of a Reconstruction Era grand house in a small Georgia community, with original interior features preserved.
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 95000824, listed July 7, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 407 Eastman Way, Eastman |
|---|---|
| County | Dodge County |
| Listed | July 7, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000824 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1872-1912 |
| Architect / builder | J.H. Russell |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Italianate; Other: Folk Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as a museum and historical society property; the Dodge County Historical Society purchased it in 1993. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 32.20051, -83.18104 (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 95000824.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q28131449
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.