McNeill House
Also known as: David Armstrong McNeill,Sr.,House
Why it's listed
Built in 1937 on a corner lot at 220 Lee Street in Thomson, Georgia, this two-story house follows a plan by architect Edward Durrell Stone that appeared in Collier's magazine in March 1936. David and Ellen McNeill chose the design after their son ordered the plans for three dollars. The house has a smooth stuccoed exterior, a low hipped roof hidden behind a parapet, curved balconies, glass block walls, original Pella casement windows, and a cylindrical stair. Construction was unusual for the town, using steel I-beams, terra cotta hollow tile, precast concrete steps, and Carrara glass in the baths. Local craftsman Henry Hogan supervised the work and built the mahogany fireplace and bookcase. A major restoration in 1989-1990 replaced the glass block, restored the iron balustrades, and fixed moisture problems. It is considered an excellent and rare Georgia example of the International style, significant statewide for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent and rare example of the International style in Georgia. It reflects modern design through up-to-date materials and construction, asymmetrical geometric forms, and simplified detail focused on function. Significance is statewide under architecture.
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 92001637, listed November 27, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 220 Lee St., Thomson |
|---|---|
| County | McDuffie County |
| Listed | November 27, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001637 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1937 |
| Architect / builder | Stone, Edward Durrell (designer); Henry Hogan, master craftsman who supervised construction; Charles Blumquist, master mason; Carl Springer, stucco and plaster work |
| Architectural style | International Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; restored in 1989-1990 after moisture problems, with little altered from the original plans. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.46718, -82.50770 (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 92001637.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134391134
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.