Acoa
Why it's listed
Acoa is a large wood-framed country house built in 1834 in the foothills of northeast Georgia, near Hollywood in Habersham County. Its builder, John R. Matthews, was a planter from Charleston, South Carolina, and the house served as a summer residence, a retreat from the heat, humidity and malaria of the lowland coast. The house follows a six-over-six variation of the central-stairhall plan, with hand-hewn, pegged timbers on a fieldstone foundation. Its roof and porches were changed over time, but the form and interior detailing remain largely intact. A fieldstone smokehouse survives behind the house, and a millpond, dam and mill ruins lie to the southwest. Holly trees in front of the house date to 1842. The property was listed for its architecture as an excellent example of north Georgia's plain Greek Revival country houses, for its hilltop setting and plantings, for its place among coastal planters' summer homes, and for the archaeological potential of the mill site.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues Acoa is a fine, intact example of a large but plain antebellum Greek Revival country house in north Georgia. It is also significant for its picturesque landscape and nineteenth-century plantings, and as one of several summer homes built by coastal planters in the mountains. The undocumented mill site adds potential historic archaeological value.
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 82002446, listed June 22, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Mathis Rd., Hollywood |
|---|---|
| County | Habersham County |
| Listed | June 22, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002446 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Builder/architect listed as unknown; the text says it was built by John R. Matthews, a planter from Charleston, South Carolina |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered, on its original site; occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 22 |
| Coordinates | 34.65265, -83.47193 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 82002446.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85739630
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.