Lilly Historic District
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Why it's listed
Lilly is a small railroad town in Dooly County, Georgia, and this district takes in most of its historic core. The brothers John, Frank and Robert Lilly founded it around 1902 as the rail line arrived, and it was incorporated in 1907. Streets follow a gridiron plan tied to the tracks, with the commercial area beside the rail corridor, a layout described as a cross-rail town type common in South Georgia. Most downtown buildings date from after a 1920 fire that destroyed much of the business district. The district also holds about 25 houses along Church and Montezuma streets, a c.1902 board-and-batten depot, Baptist and Methodist churches built in 1905, and a two-story frame school from 1912 now used as an arts center. Local builder Perry G. Busby built the Baptist church and many early houses. The district was recognized for its architecture and its community planning, and its period of significance was amended to end around 1939 because the town grew little after the fire.
Significance in brief: The district is an excellent example of a Georgia cross-rail town, with a gridiron street plan and a commercial district beside the tracks. Its houses, commercial buildings, depot, churches and school reflect styles and types common in early 20th-century Georgia, including Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and Craftsman.
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 97001558, listed January 5, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by CSX RR tracks, and Church, Montezuma, Third, and School Sts., Lilly |
|---|---|
| County | Dooly County |
| Listed | January 5, 1998 |
| Reference number | 97001558 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | c.1902-1946 (amended at listing to end c.1939) |
| Architect / builder | Perry G. Busby, local builder (Lilly Baptist Church, 1905, and many turn-of-the-century houses) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Many buildings remain in use: city hall, post office, churches, and houses. The 1912 school has been rehabilitated as a community arts center. |
| Acreage | 60 |
| Coordinates | 32.14832, -83.87774 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 97001558.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q55616871
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.