Church Furniture Store
Also known as: Custom Corner Ceramics
Why it's listed
Built in 1927 by Cornelius Church on North Washington Street in Clarkesville, this two-story brick commercial building first housed a furniture store. Its walls are laid in running bond and broken by projecting brick piers, with wood-framed plate glass storefronts and transoms, metal industrial-type windows, soldier-course lintels, and a recessed signboard with decorative brickwork at the cornice. The upper floor served as a funeral home and was later rented to the local post office. The furniture store moved to the building next door in 1951, and the funeral home relocated in the 1950s. The building is valued as a good local example of simple 1920s commercial architecture, reflecting the gradual modernization of the late Victorian storefront and a modest awareness of early modern design. It is one of two historic buildings of its type in town. It also represents local commerce and Cornelius Church, a businessman, developer and builder whose garage and home stand across Green Street.
Significance in brief: Architecturally, it is a good local example of the simple, utilitarian, 'modern' commercial buildings of the 1920s, with a pier and panel wall system and industrial sash. It is one of two historic buildings of its type in Clarkesville. It is also significant for commerce as home of the Church Furniture Company, and for its link to Cornelius Church, a local businessman, developer and builder.
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 82002427, listed August 18, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N. Washington St., Clarkesville |
|---|---|
| County | Habersham County |
| Listed | August 18, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002427 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Cornelius Church |
| Architectural style | Simple, utilitarian 1920s 'modern' commercial building |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, with a recent awning; current use is a ceramic shop. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Clarkesville Downtown Square Historic District |
| Coordinates | 34.61489, -83.52547 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 82002427.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134360394
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.