McMillan, Robert, House
Also known as: Johnson Residence
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1912 by Judge Robert McMillan as his home, this two-story brick house sits on a hilltop back from South Washington Street in Clarkesville. Locals called it "The Hill" because of the topography. The house follows a central hall plan and has a symmetrical arrangement, a hip roof, and a front porch carried on pairs of square columns set on brick bases, extending into a carriage porch. Small shed-roofed porches project from the second story on the south and east sides. It is described as the largest and perhaps finest early 20th century Georgian Revival house in the town, and as the oldest brick residence in Clarkesville, where brick construction is relatively rare. The setting also matters: the hilltop once overlooked fields and orchards, giving the property the look of a gentleman's farm. McMillan planted experimental apple orchards on his seven-acre tract, continuing a local tradition begun by Jarvis Van Buren, though most of the plantings did not survive. The house remains a residence.
Significance in brief: The house is described as the largest and perhaps finest early 20th century Georgian Revival house in Clarkesville and its oldest brick residence. Its hilltop setting over former fields and orchards gave it the character of a gentleman's farm. It is also tied to McMillan's experimental apple orchards, which continued a local horticultural tradition.
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 82002439, listed August 18, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Allen Lane, Clarkesville |
|---|---|
| County | Habersham County |
| Listed | August 18, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002439 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Robert McMillan |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival (Georgia Revival) |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and in use as a residence; a carport was added in the 1970s. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 34.60574, -83.51876 (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 82002439.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.