Woodruff, Ernest, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1888-1889, this one-story Greek Revival cottage at 1414 2nd Avenue in Columbus, Georgia, sits on a raised foundation beneath a low hip roof with two interior chimneys. A full-width porch with a flat roof is carried on Corinthian columns with a full entablature, and a turned-pillar balustrade runs along its edge. The symmetrical weatherboard facade has a central door flanked by two large windows, and the interior follows a variation of the center-hall plan with a later rear addition. The house was in the once-elite High Uptown neighborhood. It is tied to the Woodruff family. Ernest Woodruff, probably its first resident, worked with the family's Empire Mills and later became president of the Atlanta Railway and Power Company and a Coca-Cola director. His son Robert Winship Woodruff, born here in December 1889, became a leading philanthropist and Coca-Cola executive. George Waldo Woodruff, Ernest's father and a mill superintendent, also lived here.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for local history as a home of several members of the Woodruff family, who were prominent in Columbus and Atlanta. Ernest Woodruff lived here while associated with the family-run Empire Mills, and his son Robert Winship Woodruff, later a major Coca-Cola figure and philanthropist, was born here. It lies in what was once the elite High Uptown neighborhood.
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 80001212, listed September 29, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1414 2nd Ave., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | September 29, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001212 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival cottage |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in generally good repair; current use is rental property. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | High Uptown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.47300, -84.99015 (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 80001212.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134438469
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.