Jackson Hill Historic District
Also known as: Fort Norton; Fort Jackson
Why it's listed
Jackson Hill Historic District occupies two adjoining wooded hills northeast of downtown Rome, Georgia, the higher rising 809 feet above sea level. Three separate layers of history share the site. In 1863-64, local citizens dug earthen fortifications here as part of Rome's defenses, and many trenches remain largely undisturbed. From 1892 into the late 1930s the city built a reservoir, brick filter building and chemical feed house as part of its second waterworks system. In 1935-37 Works Progress Administration crews added a rustic stone community clubhouse, winding roads, stone bridges, an amphitheater, walls and an Irish rock garden, with stonework supervised by master mason Antonio J. Cescutti. The filter plant closed in 1940 and the reservoir in 1967, and park use ended in the late 1960s. The district was recognized for its military, engineering, architectural, recreational and governmental importance, and the clubhouse remains in social use.
Significance in brief: The district is significant for three unrelated developments sharing one location. The Civil War trenches are unusually intact and were a local initiative rather than a Confederate command project. The waterworks shows civic infrastructure built over decades, and the WPA rustic stonework is a good example of Depression-era recreation projects.
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 97000370, listed April 25, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jackson Hill, between GA 53 and the Oostanaula River, Rome |
|---|---|
| County | Floyd County |
| Listed | April 25, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000370 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1863-1946 |
| Architect / builder | James F. Lalor, J.W. Green, and William Ludlow-Military Engineers; L.J. Wagner-City Engineer; Robert & Company-Engineering and Architectural Firm; New York Filter Manufacturing Company; Ledbetter-Johnson; Antonio J. Cescutti-Stone Mason |
| Architectural style | OTHER/Rustic; OTHER/Functional |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Politics/Government, Military, Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The filter plant was abandoned in 1940 and the reservoir in 1967. The park use ended in the late 1960s and many scenic drives are overgrown. The clubhouse remains in social use, and the chemical feed house has boarded openings. |
| Acreage | 53 |
| Coordinates | 34.26443, -85.16441 (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 97000370.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q141758205
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.