Wells-Bagley House
Why it's listed
This wood-frame house in Columbus, Georgia, dates to about 1840 and is covered in stucco scored to look like stone. It is built in a modified Greek Revival style described as indigenous to Columbus. A pyramidal roof is supported by large columns on two sides, each measuring 46 inches around. The plan has four original rooms and a central hall, with a later room added at the left rear. The large front door is framed by sidelights and a transom, and dentil molding runs above the columns. Consultant Carl Feiss, in his inventory of Columbus buildings, said it must be preserved at all cost. For 129 years the house stood at Front Avenue and Eighth Street overlooking the Chattahoochee River. Francis Marion Bagley bought the Wells residence around 1900. In 1969 Historic Columbus Foundation moved it to Sixth Street to protect it from commercial zoning, hoping a buyer would restore it. The nomination stresses architectural value over historical importance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house has more architectural than historical significance. It is a modified Greek Revival design said to be indigenous to Columbus, and consultant Carl Feiss judged it 'must be preserved at all cost'. The move was made to protect it from commercial zoning.
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 69000051, listed July 29, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 22 6th St., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | July 29, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000051 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1840 |
| Architectural style | Modified Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Moved in May 1969 by Historic Columbus Foundation to 22 Sixth Street, in hopes an interested party would buy and restore it. The form marks it unoccupied. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Within district | Columbus Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.45653, -84.99355 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 69000051.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134398069
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.