Asbury, Henry, House
Also known as: Swain Residence
Why it's listed
Built in 1900-01 on Water Street in Clarkesville, this two-story weatherboarded I-house was designed and constructed by local master craftsman Rusk Church for Henry Asbury, owner of a hardware store and one of three Asbury brothers prominent in the town. It has a central hall plan, a rear wing forming a modified T, a green tin roof, a bay window, cutwork gables, and a wraparound shed porch with chamfered posts. The I-house form was more common in earlier centuries, so its use here shows how a traditional type persisted into the 1900s. The property once covered eight acres, and much of the landscaped setting remains, including lawns, shrubbery, large trees, a rock path and the site of a clay tennis court used by young people in the community. A Delco power house supplied electricity about fifteen years before it was generally available in town, and it survives as a storage shed.
Significance in brief: It is a late example of the plain-style I-house, embellished with late Victorian features such as a bay window, and is tied to local builder Rusk Church. Its early 20th century landscape setting largely survives, including a rock path and the remains of a clay tennis court. The Delco power house sheltered the first direct-current generator in Clarkesville, and the house is linked to Henry Asbury, a local hardware merchant.
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 82002425, listed August 18, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 211 E. Waters St., Clarkesville |
|---|---|
| County | Habersham County |
| Listed | August 18, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002425 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Rusk Church |
| Architectural style | Plain style I-house with late Victorian features |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and used as a residence; the Delco power house is now used as a storage shed. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 34.61708, -83.52390 (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 82002425.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16995185
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.