Mott House
Also known as: Fieldcrest Mills,Inc.
Why it's listed
Built around 1840 for Mrs. James S. Calhoun on the bank of the Chattahoochee River in Columbus, this three-story, five-bay Flemish bond brick house has a mansard roof, a glass cupola and a central portico with fluted Ionic columns and ornamental ironwork. Civil engineer Daniel Griffin bought it in 1849, added the mansard roof and a walled garden, and served as first president of the Southern Telegraph Line from Washington to New Orleans. Colonel Randolph Mott purchased it in 1856. In April 1865 Major-General James H. Wilson made the house his headquarters after capturing Columbus. A mill company bought it in 1881, and a later mill company acquired it in the 1960s for its main offices. The interior has been remodelled and additions surround it, but the original section remains recognizable. It is described as the last of the mid-nineteenth century riverfront plantation houses in the city.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the last of the great mid-nineteenth century plantation houses fronting the Chattahoochee in Columbus. It is tied to the Washington to New Orleans telegraph line and to the 1865 capture of Columbus, when General Wilson used it as headquarters. It also symbolizes the shift from a residential, agricultural neighborhood to an industrial one after the Civil War.
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 74000698, listed December 3, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Front Ave., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | December 3, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000698 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date c. 1839) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in excellent condition, used as the reception area and offices of a mill company; interior remodelled and modern additions made to the north side and rear. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 32.47302, -84.99419 (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 74000698.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6918627
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.