Lumpkin County Jail
Also known as: Old Lumpkin County Jail
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1884 on Clarkesville Street in Dahlonega, this two-story brick building served as Lumpkin County's jail for 80 years. Local builders Alonzo C. Johnson and Henry Ramsaur constructed it in the Italianate style on a 36-by-40-foot plan, with recessed front panels, brick pilasters, dentil trim, a hipped roof with a louvered cupola, and segmental-arched windows. The sheriff's family lived on the first floor, while the second floor held four cells surrounded by a corridor. It was the county's fifth jail, following earlier ones that proved insecure, dilapidated or lost to fire, which may explain the choice of brick. Porches were added in 1936 and 1942, and wood cells were later replaced with metal ones. Its detailing, its largely complete original plan and its reflection of changing jail practices led to its recognition. After 1964 it housed several public offices, and a rehabilitation for community services was planned.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites architectural significance as one of the most elaborately detailed jails in the thematic group, built to its original plans with a cupola and fence added soon after. It also cites politics and government, since it was the county's fifth jail, and its brick construction, jailer's quarters and later switch to steel cells reflect changes in the criminal justice system.
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 85002086, listed September 13, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Clarksville St., Dahlonega |
|---|---|
| County | Lumpkin County |
| Listed | September 13, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002086 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Alonzo C. Johnson and Henry Ramsaur, builders |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition. Since a new jail opened in 1964 it has housed various government offices, and a grant has been approved to rehabilitate it as a community services center. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.53445, -83.98174 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 85002086.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16894370
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.