Montpelier Female Institute
Why it's listed
Montpelier Female Institute occupies a wooded tract in rural Monroe County, Georgia, about 17 miles west of Macon. The land, dotted with mineral springs, first served as a health resort called Montpelier Springs. In 1840 it was conveyed to the Episcopal Church of Georgia, and under Bishop Stephen Elliott a girls' school began operating in 1842. It later became Montpelier Female Institute, with room for 86 students by 1849. The school faced debt, a fire in 1854 that destroyed smaller buildings, and yellow fever, and trustees voted to close it in December 1855. What remains is a chapel of about 1843, a Greek temple form frame building with four Doric columns and a rare cross-shaped vent in the pediment. Also surviving are a ruined four-room brick piano building, the ruins of Chase Hall and the Bishop's house, and slave cabin ruins. A c. 1930 house stands on the foundations of Lamar Hall.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the site is architecturally significant, especially for the Greek temple form of the chapel, and for the remnants of other 19th century structures. It also holds that Montpelier Springs, as a health resort, school and college, played a leading role in the history of Middle Georgia.
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 75000602, listed October 10, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W of Macon, Macon |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | October 10, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000602 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek temple form (chapel) |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as private and unoccupied; the chapel is the best preserved extant structure, while Chase Hall and the Bishop's house are in ruins and a four-room brick piano building has a fallen roof. |
| Acreage | 200 |
| Coordinates | 32.86994, -83.88341 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 75000602.
- 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.