Thornton, Albert E., House (Additional Doucmentation)
Why it's listed
Set on about four acres along West Paces Ferry Road in Atlanta, this stucco house was built around 1938 to designs by architect Phillip Shutze, who is also credited with the landscaping. The main block has five bays and is flanked by one-story wings under a slate hipped roof with paired terminal chimneys. Regency details include an apsidal entrance, an elliptical window and an "eye-lid" dormer. The garden side is described as the most pleasing, with a portico and double stair leading to a semi-circular terrace, then a lawn bordered by natural woods. Albert E. Thornton Jr., a prominent attorney and director of many firms, built the house as one of the last estates along the road. He was a grandson of Gen. Alfred Austell, an early Atlanta pioneer. His brother Alfred Austell Thornton had owned land on the road earlier and planned to build in 1911 but died in 1913. The house was recognized as an outstanding example of its style and a Shutze masterpiece.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a superb example of Regency Revival style in Atlanta, citing its apsidal entrance, elliptical window, "eye-lid" dormer and stucco construction. The landscaping is attributed to Shutze and is described as adding greatly to the design. It was built by Albert E. Thornton Jr., a prominent attorney and grandson of pioneer Gen. Alfred Austell, as one of the last estates along the road.
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 80004458, listed December 8, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 205 West Paces Ferry Rd., Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | December 8, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004458 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Phillip Shutze (spelled Schutze on the data form) |
| Architectural style | Regency Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Within district | Tuxedo Park Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.84475, -84.39072 (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 80004458.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4710079
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.