Globe Hotel
Also known as: Dunn House
Why it's listed
Originally a hotel facing the courthouse square in McDonough, this two-story wood-framed building now stands at 20 Jonesboro Street, where it was moved in 1938 to make way for a service station. The older west half dates from 1827 and follows a Plantation Plain layout with a central chimney, nine-over-nine windows, and simple late Federal mantels. The east half, added in the last quarter of the 19th century, has four-over-four windows, a corbelled chimney, turned stair balusters, bracketed mantels, and an Eastlake-style front door. The hotel is regarded as a good example of the small, plain county-seat hotels that served businessmen, politicians, salesmen, and travelers, especially during court sessions. It was one of four hotels in McDonough, built four years after the town was founded, and is the only one that survives. It is the town's oldest extant commercial building. Recently rehabilitated into apartments, it retains much of its historic character despite some interior changes.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a good example of the small, wood-framed hotels once found in nearly every Georgia county seat, now increasingly rare. It also reflects two periods in McDonough's history, its early founding and post-Reconstruction prosperity. It is the oldest extant commercial building in McDonough and the only one of the town's four hotels to survive.
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 85001980, listed September 5, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 20 Jonesboro St., McDonough |
|---|---|
| County | Henry County |
| Listed | September 5, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001980 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- |
| Architectural style | Plantation Plain (1827 west half) with late Federal-style mantels; postbellum east half with Eastlake-style detailing |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to apartments in a rehabilitation certified as meeting the Secretary of the Interior's Standards; listed as occupied, private residence, condition excellent. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | McDonough Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.44757, -84.14790 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 85001980.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5570982
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.