Illges House
Why it's listed
Built around 1850 by James A. Chapman in Columbus's "high uptown" district, this five-bay brick mansion combines late Greek Revival form with Italianate details. Its front facade is stuccoed and scored to resemble stone, and it features a Corinthian portico, a flying balcony, pedimented windows, paired eave brackets and delicate ironwork, including a fence added in 1877. Originally an eight-room house with a central hall plan, it gained a kitchen, butler's pantry, back porch and downstairs bedroom when Abraham Illges bought it in 1877. Illges, a Pennsylvania native who arrived in Columbus in 1849, built a career in groceries, cotton and jute bagging and helped found some eleven industrial companies. His family lived in the house until 1946, and it returned to the family in 1958. Inside are marble mantels, carved woodwork, mirrored folding doors and a plaster ceiling medallion. Its distinctive classical front made it unique in Columbus.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a fine and unique local example of late Greek Revival architecture with Italianate influences, seen in its Corinthian portico, flying balcony, iron fencing and paired brackets. It is also tied to Abraham Illges, a businessman who helped found some eleven industrial companies. The nomination also notes it needed the protection that local landmark status would bring.
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 73000634, listed June 19, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1428 2nd Ave., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | June 19, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000634 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date c.1850) |
| Architect / builder | James A. Chapman (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Greek Revival with Italianate characteristics |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered, on its original site, occupied and used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | High Uptown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.47399, -84.98991 (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 73000634.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134399398
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.