Bacon Family Homestead
Why it's listed
Near Baconton in Mitchell County, Georgia, this 443.8-acre homestead centers on a one-story board-and-batten farmhouse built in 1912-13 by Robert J. Bacon, Jr. Its walls were never painted, and the siding is made of unturpentined pine. Inside are beaded board ceilings, plank walls, wide pine floors and three fireplaces. A horseshoe drive, boxwoods, a fountain and informal plantings surround the house, with pecan groves nearby. The land was once part of a plantation of about 4,000 acres assembled around 1858 by Major Robert J. Bacon, Sr. He gave the railroad its right-of-way, and the station and town of Baconton took his name. Pecans grown here from nuts sent from Texas around 1872 became the parent trees of Georgia's cultivated pecan industry. Bacon, Jr. helped open Baconton's first pecan shelling plant in 1919. The site may also hold archaeological evidence of the earlier plantation.
Significance in brief: The land was the plantation of Robert J. Bacon, Sr., for whom Baconton was named, and it holds the parent trees of Georgia's cultivated pecan industry. The 1913 house is an unusual example of rustic rural architecture in Mitchell County, and its informal grounds add to the setting. The grounds may also hold archaeological evidence of the mid-19th century plantation.
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 83003591, listed November 25, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W. Durham St. and Albany Bainbridge Stage Rd., Baconton |
|---|---|
| County | Mitchell County |
| Listed | November 25, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003591 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 and 1900- (specific dates 1858, 1912-13) |
| Architect / builder | Unspecified local carpenters |
| Architectural style | Early twentieth century rustic style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Commerce, Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence and agricultural property; the house is in good condition but altered, the front porch floor has been removed, and the swimming pool is no longer in use. |
| Acreage | 443.8 |
| Coordinates | 31.38251, -84.19265 (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 83003591.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q29095047
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.