Arnold, Thomas P., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1905-06 on South Main Street in Palmetto, southwest of Atlanta, this two-story weatherboard house combines Neoclassical and Craftsman elements under a hipped roof with wide eaves. A flat-roofed front porch with square Corinthian columns and a denticulated cornice faces the street, and a pedimented dormer sits above a projecting central bay. Inside, four rooms over four flank a central hall with an open stairway, heart pine floors, wooden mantels, pocket doors and original hardware. Atlanta architects James W. Butt and Marshall F. Morris designed it, and the original plans and specifications survive. Thomas P. Arnold, a landowner, farmer and mayor of Palmetto, built it for his growing family. His son, Thomas P. Arnold, Jr., later served as mayor from 1937 to 1939. The property was recognized for its architecture and for the Arnold family's role in the town's development. Porch enclosures and other changes have been made, but the house remains largely intact on about 1.15 acres with early outbuildings.
Significance in brief: It is a well-preserved example of an eclectic turn-of-the-century house blending Neoclassical and Craftsman detailing with an American Foursquare plan. It is also linked to Thomas P. Arnold and his son Thomas P. Arnold, Jr., who each served as mayor of Palmetto. The Arnold family helped shape the town's growth as landowners, farmers and civic leaders.
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 84001074, listed May 10, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 518 S. Main St., Palmetto |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | May 10, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001074 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1905-06 |
| Architect / builder | Butt and Morris (James W. Butt and Marshall F. Morris of Atlanta) |
| Architectural style | Eclectic, with Neoclassical and Craftsman detailing; American Foursquare massing |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence; listed in fair condition with some alterations such as enclosed porches and removed roof balustrades. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 33.51127, -84.67158 (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 84001074.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q104851798
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.