Smith, W. E., House
Why it's listed
Located on Flint Avenue in Albany, Georgia, this two-story brick house dates to about 1860 and is said to be the first brick residence in the city. Captain William E. Smith built it for his bride, Caroline Williams. The house is five bays wide, laid in common bond, with bracketed eaves, a central hall with an oval curved mahogany staircase, original mantels and wide flooring. Its design joins classical symmetry with bracketing, and local tradition says Smith had a well drilled and water pumped into the house, even to an upstairs bedroom, making it Albany's first private residential waterworks. Smith was a lawyer who commanded the Albany Guards in 1862, lost a leg in battle, and later served in Congress and the Georgia Legislature. In 1960 his grandson gave the house, through the Junior League of Albany, for use as a museum displaying Flint River area artifacts and rock collections.
Significance in brief: It is said to be the first brick residence in Albany and is described as a locally outstanding mid-nineteenth century structure. Its design combines classical symmetry with bracketed eaves and technical innovations, including the first private waterworks for a residence in Albany. It is also tied to Captain Smith, a lawyer, Confederate officer, congressman and state legislator.
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 77000420, listed August 30, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 516 Flint Ave., Albany |
|---|---|
| County | Dougherty County |
| Listed | August 30, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000420 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1860 |
| Architect / builder | Built by Captain William E. Smith |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival and Italianate elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as the Albany Area Museum; condition listed as good and occupied, on its original site. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 31.57966, -84.16008 (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 77000420.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134297242
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.