Matthews House
Why it's listed
Set on farmland east of State Highway 79 near Danburg, this two-story Greek Revival farmhouse was begun in the 1850s by Joseph Matthews and finished by about 1861, according to family tradition backed by census records. A full-width portico with six fluted Doric columns sits beneath the main roof and carries a cantilevered gallery with ornate lathed balusters. Double windows with boxed lintels flank the central door, and inside a central hall divides four rooms on each floor. Original oak graining survives on the hall doors. The house is valued as one of four related homes in Lincoln and Wilkes Counties that trace a stylistic progression from late Greek Revival toward Victorian detailing. The nomination suggests that carpenter John Cunningham, who lived with the Matthews family in 1860 and vanishes from local tax records after 1861, may have built or helped build the first three. A smokehouse and two small barns remain on the property.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house matters for its architecture and its place in local history just before the Civil War. It is the third in a sequence of four related houses in Lincoln and Wilkes Counties that show late Greek Revival style absorbing Victorian influences. The form suggests a single master builder, possibly the carpenter John Cunningham, shaped the group.
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 76000641, listed October 14, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Danburg on GA 79, Danburg |
|---|---|
| County | Lincoln County |
| Listed | October 14, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000641 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1855-60 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and altered, occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 48 |
| Coordinates | 33.90317, -82.59587 (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 76000641.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q55622473
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.