Girard Colored Mission
Also known as: St. James; African Methodist Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
Built around 1886, this two-story Queen Anne house at 1402 2nd Avenue in Columbus, Georgia, sits in what was once the elite High Uptown neighborhood. Joseph Garrett, who ran a Broad Street wholesale liquor and tobacco business and later appears in directories as postmaster, bought the property in 1886 and lived there until 1910. The family took in boarders around 1904. In 1910 Garrett sold the house to Osborn and Minnie Bullock, and it became a private home again. The wood-frame house has weatherboard siding, an asymmetrical form, a multiplaned roof, tall corbelled chimneys, and ornate porches with massive columns, brackets, pendants and Eastlake-style balusters. Stained glass and a Palladian-type window add detail. The nomination calls it the best example of its decorative style in Columbus and a good match for similar houses anywhere in the country. It appears on Sanborn maps of 1889 and 1895.
Significance in brief: The form argues the house is significant in local history as the residence of Joseph Garrett, a Broad Street wholesale liquor and tobacco merchant, in the once-elite High Uptown neighborhood. It later served as a modified boarding house before returning to single-family use. Architecturally, it is described as the best example of its varied, decorative style in Columbus, comparable to similar houses nationwide.
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 80001173, listed September 29, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1002 6th Ave., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | September 29, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001173 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne (with Eastlake-style porch balusters) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Private residence in good condition at the time of the survey. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.46538, -84.98744 (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 80001173.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134419825
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.