Mann, John T., House
Also known as: Kerr House
Why it's listed
Built around 1870 by John T. Mann, this 1-1/2-story Gothic Revival house sits on a slight rise at the end of Rivers Street, north of downtown Cave Spring, Georgia. The land was once owned by Joseph Rivers and later subdivided to form the street. The wood-frame house has a T-shaped plan, a steep gable roof with dormers, a central chimney, a bay window, a front porch and a rear ell. Board-and-batten siding with molded battens, scalloped bargeboards, dripstone-type window and door surrounds, and a narrow diamond-shaped attic vent give it its character. The interior has been remodeled, but the exterior is virtually intact. The nomination ranks it among the finest Gothic Revival residences in the town and suggests its design may have come from a pattern book. Such houses are relatively rare in Georgia, which was dominated by Greek Revival. Its elevated siting makes it a downtown landmark, and its informal front yard and low retaining wall reflect turn-of-the-century landscaping.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the finest Gothic Revival residences in Cave Spring, with a virtually intact exterior and a design that may have come from a pattern book. Gothic Revival homes are relatively rare in Georgia, where Greek Revival dominated. Its siting on a rise at the end of a street makes it a downtown landmark, and the form also cites its informal turn-of-the-century landscaping.
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 80001047, listed June 19, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Rivers St., Cave Spring |
|---|---|
| County | Floyd County |
| Listed | June 19, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001047 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | John T. Mann |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and used as a residence; the interior has been recently remodeled while the exterior is virtually intact. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 34.10940, -85.33662 (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 80001047.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134302538
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.