Shivers-Simpson House
Also known as: Rock Mill
Why it's listed
Rock Mill is a large plantation house built about 1820 for William Shivers on the west bank of the Ogeechee River near Jewell, Hancock County. It rises three stories above a high basement of handmade salmon-red brick on a granite foundation, with clapboard upper floors, a gable roof and broad chimneys serving twelve fireplaces. Inside, wide halls divide each floor, and original plaster cornices, a Greek Key rosette, Federal mantels and Greek Revival panelled doors survive. Its style is late-Federal with strong Greek Revival overtones. Around 1890 the original Doric-style raised portico was replaced by a full-length second-story porch; the later restoration put back a portico in its place. William Shivers, like his father Jonas, owned mills, and his grist and textile operations on the river surpassed those across the water. He died in 1852, and the house was sold in 1853 to William W. Simpson. It was valued as a well-preserved record of nineteenth-century river life.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as an exceptionally well-preserved example of late-Federal architecture with strong Greek Revival overtones. It also documents the cultural and industrial life of the Ogeechee River in the nineteenth century, including the Shivers family's mills. The house was undergoing a careful restoration guided by Edward Vason Jones.
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 70000207, listed June 22, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of Jewell on Mayfield Rd., Jewell |
|---|---|
| County | Hancock County |
| Listed | June 22, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000207 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date c.1820) |
| Architect / builder | Built for William Shivers; restoration advised by Edward Vason Jones of Albany, Georgia |
| Architectural style | Late-Federal with strong overtones of Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and undergoing restoration in 1970; a later note says restoration was complete, with the original-style portico replacing the Victorian porch. Plans were to open it as a house museum. |
| Coordinates | 33.30847, -82.79154 (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 70000207.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85800918
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.