Cheely-Coleman House
Also known as: Coleman House
The pin is a point inside the NPS boundary polygon, not a surveyed location.
Why it's listed
Built around 1820-25 near the Ogeechee River shoals in Hancock County, this two-story frame house grew out of the simple dogtrot cabin plan into something far more refined. An inset two-story portico, with Ionic columns set over Doric ones, marks the eastern front, and three different exterior chimneys distinguish the ends. The nomination describes it as the only house of this design in Georgia. Thomas Cheely, who assembled the surrounding land and built a gristmill on the shoals, probably had it built, and it stayed in the Cheely-Coleman family almost continuously until 1973. During Sherman's march in 1864, Major-General Judson Kilpatrick made it his headquarters; the house was spared, though nearby mills and livestock were destroyed. He engraved a verse on a bedroom wall. Changes made around 1940 included new flooring and brass hardware. Outbuildings once stood nearby, but only the house remains today.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is nationally significant for its architecture, as a refined evolution of the basic dogtrot log cabin plan and the only one of this design in Georgia. It is also tied to the Coleman and Cheely families, the county's early industrial development, and Sherman's march through Georgia, when General Kilpatrick used it as headquarters in 1864.
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 76000638, listed October 29, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S of Jewell off GA 123 at Ogeechee River, Jewell |
|---|---|
| County | Hancock County |
| Listed | October 29, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000638 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1820-1825 |
| Architectural style | Dogtrot plan with primitive Classical details (Ionic over Doric columns) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and well maintained; unoccupied except for weekend outings, with some alterations made around 1940. |
| Acreage | 55.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.25118, -82.76012 (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 76000638.
- 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.