Hampton Depot
Why it's listed
Completed in 1881, this one-story brick depot on East Main Street in Hampton, Georgia, measures 35 by 170 feet and combined a passenger station with a cotton warehouse under one roof. It has solid American-bond brick walls, a corrugated-iron roof on metal trusses, and unusual circular and cornice patterns worked in brick on both ends. Hampton had the only rail connection in Henry County from 1846 until 1882, and the depot anchored a building boom in the town around 1880. Its all-brick, fireproof construction suited cotton storage, and its ornate detailing set it apart from other depots of the period. The plans are unsigned, but the design is thought likely to be the work of Savannah architect Augustus Schwaab, who worked for the Central of Georgia Railroad. Passenger service ended in 1957. The railroad donated the building to the city in 1975, and it now serves as city offices and a community building.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues state-level significance in architecture for its high level of design among late-Victorian Georgia depots, its fireproof all-brick construction and ornate brick detailing, and the probability that Augustus Schwaab of Savannah designed it. It is also significant in local history as the focal point of Hampton's development when the town had the county's only rail connection.
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 79000730, listed September 10, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E. Main St., Hampton |
|---|---|
| County | Henry County |
| Listed | September 10, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000730 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Augustus Schwaab (?) |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Donated to the City of Hampton in 1975; the passenger area was renovated as city hall, police department, council chambers and recorder's court, with plans to adapt the warehouse area. The land is still railroad-owned. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.38471, -84.28322 (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 79000730.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16934716
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.