Glen Mary
Why it's listed
Glen Mary is a Greek Revival house of 1848 set on a knoll beside Linton Road, seven miles south of Sparta, Georgia. Planter Theophilus Jackson Smith built it and named it for his wife, Mary. Its raised form places a stuccoed daylight level beneath the main weatherboarded floor, which holds two parlors and two bedrooms around a central hall. Double porticos with Doric columns, a dentilled entablature and a cranberry etched glass entrance give the house a formal character. Inside, grape and leaf stucco cornices signed by Francis McDermott of Savannah have been represented in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American wing. Losses during the Civil War forced Smith to sell the house and 840 acres for $10,500 to General Ethan Allen Hitchcock, a West Point student and instructor, whose family has kept it since. The nomination describes it as a one-of-a-kind High Greek Revival house in Georgia, and restoration was under way with architect Edward V. Jones.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a one-of-a-kind High Greek Revival house in Georgia, built as a raised cottage but treated as a formal mansion. It has notable interior features, including signed stucco cornices by Francis McDermott of Savannah that are represented in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American wing. It has also been owned by only two families, including that of General Ethan Allen Hitchcock.
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 74000687, listed May 8, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Linton Rd., S of Sparta, Sparta |
|---|---|
| County | Hancock County |
| Listed | May 8, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000687 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1848) |
| Architect / builder | Built by Theophilus Jackson Smith; cornices signed by craftsman Francis McDermott of Savannah; restoration by Edward V. Jones |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (High Greek Revival raised cottage) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; private residence undergoing restoration, with a rear addition of closets and bathrooms made. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 33.17778, -83.00157 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 74000687.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14686635
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.