Jordan-Bellew House
Why it's listed
Built between 1850 and 1860 by Fleming Jordan, this two-story frame house in Monticello, Georgia, is an example of Italianate influence in the state. A porch with inset columns, turned balusters and brackets wraps the front and part of the sides, and a hipped roof with wide bracketed eaves covers the house. Brick appears only in the four exterior chimneys, the milk basement and the front steps. Inside, a freestanding oval spiral staircase dominates the central hall, and an unusual entablature with a bamboo motif recalling Chinese Chippendale frames the front door and the sliding doors. Mantels show Greek Revival simplicity. Jordan, a state legislator and landowner, reportedly used slaves and workers from his farms over nearly a decade of construction. He sold the house and 165 acres to his son in 1860. Later alterations were modest, and the original four-room central-hall plan with three shed rooms remains intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a fine example of Italianate domestic architecture in Georgia, with bracketed eaves, a wraparound porch and distinctive interior woodwork. It is also tied to Fleming Jordan, a prominent Monticello figure and state legislator. The form rates its significance as local, under architecture and history.
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 78000990, listed January 20, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Madison Hwy., Monticello |
|---|---|
| County | Jasper County |
| Listed | January 20, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000990 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1850-1860 |
| Architect / builder | Fleming Jordan |
| Architectural style | Italianate (with Greek Revival details) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Private residence, occupied; the owner restored deteriorated areas, and the exterior is unaltered with only minor interior changes. |
| Acreage | 2.2 |
| Within district | Monticello Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.30999, -83.67831 (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 78000990.
- 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.