Roberts, John Spencer, House
Why it's listed
Located at 927 5th Avenue in Columbus, Georgia, this one-story Greek Revival house dates to about 1850. It is a weatherboard frame building with a truncated hipped roof, two interior chimneys with corbelled stacks, and a front portico with paired Doric columns over a central entrance framed by sidelights and a transom. An entablature runs around the whole house, and the seven-room interior has additions at the rear. It sits in a residential area of Greek Revival and Victorian houses. The house is reputed to have been built for John Spencer Roberts, founder of Georgia Webbing and Tape Co. In the late 1890s it was the home of Joseph Hecht, who later managed Hecht Candy Co., a wholesale candy manufacturer on Broad Street. Its architectural distinction lies in the ashlar block paneling under the portico, which is said to be unique among Columbus houses, along with fine proportions and exceptional interior woodwork and plaster. It remains a private dwelling in good condition.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for local history as the home of John Spencer Roberts, founder of Georgia Webbing and Tape Co., and of Joseph Hecht, who became manager of a candy business. Architecturally, it is described as the only house in Columbus to use ashlar block rather than flush paneling under the portico, with unusually fine proportions and exceptional interior woodwork and plastering.
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 80001195, listed September 29, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 927 5th Ave., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | September 29, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001195 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Private dwelling in good condition, with various additions to the rear. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.46392, -84.98646 (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 80001195.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134427709
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.