Griggs-Erwin House
Also known as: Dixon Residence
Why it's listed
This two-story house on Bridge Street in Clarkesville dates to about 1860. James E. Griggs bought the one-acre lot in 1857, when Bridge Street was a new road leading to the Soque River, and he likely built the main block. It is a plain-style dwelling with modest Greek Revival touches, including a boxed cornice with returns, pilaster-like corner boards and a doorway with sidelights. William S. Erwin, a lawyer and Civil War captain, bought the property in 1873 and brought his bride there. He added rooms at the rear and the Victorian front porch and balcony, with scalloped cutwork and chamfered posts. The Erwins later took in boarders, and an exterior staircase to the second floor reflects that use. The house is valued as an example of how 19th-century Georgia owners updated older homes to keep them fashionable, and as the home of a local attorney. It has been a family residence since 1946.
Significance in brief: The house is significant architecturally as an "evolved" work, combining modest Greek Revival detailing from Griggs's original house with Victorian porches and rear rooms added by later owner William S. Erwin. It is also significant locally as the home of Erwin, a Civil War captain and attorney, and reflects the unpretentious tastes of Georgia's middle class in the 19th century.
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 82002432, listed August 18, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bridge St., Clarkesville |
|---|---|
| County | Habersham County |
| Listed | August 18, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002432 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | James E. Griggs ? |
| Architectural style | Plain-style with Greek Revival influences; Victorian porches |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and in use as a family residence. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 34.61729, -83.52674 (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 82002432.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134361937
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.