Nicolson, William P., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1892 at 821 Piedmont Avenue in Atlanta, this two-story house was designed by architect Walter T. Downing for Dr. William P. Nicolson, a prominent surgeon and medical educator. It was the third house built in the wooded Mid-Town area, which was then opening as a streetcar suburb. Downing combined a hip-roofed block with a rounded two-story bay and a columned porch, decorated with shell, swag and torch motifs drawn from eighteenth century English and American sources. Inside, a central hall holds a U-shaped stair, a built-in settee and stained glass panels, with sliding doors opening to the sitting room, parlor and dining room. Downing even designed the dining furniture. The house is one of five known surviving Downing residences in Atlanta and the only one showing his early 1890s formula. It has stayed in the Nicolson family with few alterations, and it is regarded as an important Mid-Town landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of only five surviving Downing-designed residences in Atlanta and the only one showing his distinctive early-to-mid 1890s stylistic formula. It is nearly unaltered, with its decoration intact. It is linked to Dr. Nicolson, a prominent surgeon, medical educator and president of the Georgia Medical Association. It was also among the first houses in Mid-Town, an early fashionable northside suburb.
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 77000432, listed March 25, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 821 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | March 25, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000432 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1891-92 |
| Architect / builder | Walter T. Downing |
| Architectural style | Late nineteenth century eclectic |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Art, Health/Medicine, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as excellent. The house is occupied, in private ownership and used as a private residence. It has remained in the Nicolson family and been kept in original form with few alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.77675, -84.38091 (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 77000432.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7493867
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.