Carroll, John M., House
Why it's listed
Built in the late 1850s by John M. Carroll, this two-story wood-frame house on Park Street in Cave Spring sits on level ground near a creek at the edge of town. It is nearly square, with a low hip roof, two interior chimneys, weatherboard siding and a recessed two-story front porch framed by columns. Paired brackets, paneled corner pilasters and a hanging balcony add detail. The design mixes Georgian layout, transitional Federal and Greek Revival entry features, and Italianate touches, which the form attributes to small-town builders combining tradition, pattern books and current fashion. Carroll was a founder of the nearby Carroll-Richardson gristmill, begun in 1857. From 1920 to 1927 the Georgia Baptist Convention owned the house and used it as a dormitory for Hearn Academy; the rear burned during that time. The house remains a residence in good condition.
Significance in brief: The form cites architectural significance for a highly original eclectic design blending Georgian form, Federal/Greek Revival entry and Italianate details. It also cites industry, as the home of a founder of the Carroll-Richardson gristmill, and education, for use as a Hearn Academy dormitory from 1920 to 1927. A later reviewer comment disagreed with the industry and education areas.
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 80001021, listed June 19, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Park St., Cave Spring |
|---|---|
| County | Floyd County |
| Listed | June 19, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001021 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th-century Eclectic (Georgian form, Federal/Greek Revival, Italianate details) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence and described as in good condition; altered in 1921 and 1958. |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Coordinates | 34.10255, -85.33968 (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 80001021.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85771621
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.