McGehee-Woodall House
Also known as: Alexander House; Senior Citizens Center
Why it's listed
Built around 1845, probably by Robert B. Alexander, this solid brick house at 1534 Second Avenue in Columbus, Georgia, is a two-story raised cottage over a high basement. A Doric portico with a wrought-iron balustrade crowns brick steps in a style compared to Charleston homes. Inside are black Carrara marble mantels said to have been imported from Italy, and carved woodwork. Four chimneys signal the wealth of its early occupants. The house sits on part of the original Courthouse Square, where Muscogee County's first frame courthouse stood. Col. Allen McGehee, a cotton exporter and businessman, bought it in 1872, and his family lived there for 77 years. His daughter Virginia Ethel McGehee married publisher William Clyde Woodall in the house in 1899. After renovation, it was dedicated as a Senior Citizens Center in 1969. Its Greek Revival character and location in a commercial zone prompted the push for landmark protection.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites the house's beauty, its Greek Revival design with a Doric portico, and its long association with the McGehee family, who lived there for 77 years. It also stands on part of the original Courthouse Square, site of Muscogee County's first courthouse. The nomination notes that listing would give it local landmark protection in a commercially zoned area.
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 72000392, listed January 20, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1534 2nd Ave., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | January 20, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000392 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1845 (19th Century) |
| Architect / builder | Robert B. Alexander (thought to have built it in 1845) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival with Doric portico; raised cottage |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered; renovated and opened as the Senior Citizens Center in 1969. The form lists it as occupied. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 32.47589, -84.99056 (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 72000392.
- 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.