Gaines, Ralph, House
Why it's listed
Seven miles north of Elberton in Elbert County, Georgia, a log cabin and frame cottage built by Ralph Gaines in the 1820s stands beside Highway 368. One chimney carries the date 1827, and the original log room may be older than 1820. Later frame rooms were added around 1840 and again near the turn of the century, and the log portion is now hidden under weatherboard siding. Its most notable feature is the chimney, which has a diaper pattern of glazed headers, a type of brickwork described as extremely rare in nineteenth-century Georgia. Inside, a carved pine mantelpiece with fluted pilasters and dentils survives. Two log barns built by Gaines remain nearby. Gaines farmed and also made wagons and farm tools. The chimney may have been influenced by the c.1800 Ralph Banks House, as the two men were close friends who helped build the first Coldwater Methodist Church. The nominated area covers 24 acres.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues for architectural significance in the original log cabin portion and the nearby log barns. The diaper-pattern glazed-header chimney is described as extremely rare in Georgia in the nineteenth century, and the carved pine mantelpiece is also noted. The chimney may have been influenced by the c.1800 Ralph Banks House.
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 77000422, listed October 5, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of Elberton on GA 368, Elberton |
|---|---|
| County | Elbert County |
| Listed | October 5, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000422 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Ralph Gaines |
| Architectural style | Log cabin with frame additions; variation of the southern I house plan |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as good. Described as a private residence, occupied part-time by the widow of a Gaines descendant, with the crop land temporarily idle. |
| Acreage | 24 |
| Coordinates | 34.20236, -82.80864 (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 77000422.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85795778
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.