Roving House
Why it's listed
Built around 1850 on Rome Street in Cave Spring, Georgia, this one-story wood-frame cottage has a central section flanked by projecting wings under gable roofs set at right angles. It rests on brick piers and stone foundations and is clad in board-and-batten siding, with scalloped bargeboards on the front gable ends of the wings. The house was first located in Cave Spring, moved to Livingston in the mid-19th century, and returned to Cave Spring in the late 19th century, reportedly floated along the nearby creek on a small barge. The side ells were probably added after the last move. It was listed for its Gothic Revival detailing, a style less popular in mid-19th-century Georgia than Greek Revival but strongly represented in Cave Spring. It also illustrates a house that evolved over time and the common practice of moving buildings, here tied to changing county lines and county seats. It remains a residence in good condition.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its Gothic Revival detailing, including board-and-batten siding and scalloped bargeboards, a style uncommon in mid-19th-century Georgia but well represented in Cave Spring. It also shows how a house could grow from a small central section into a larger residence. In local history, it was moved away from Cave Spring and back again in response to shifting county lines and county seats.
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 80001057, listed June 19, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Rome St., Cave Spring |
|---|---|
| County | Floyd County |
| Listed | June 19, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001057 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and currently used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 47 |
| Coordinates | 34.11084, -85.33017 (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 80001057.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.