Woodruff, Henry Lindsay, Second House
Why it's listed
Built about 1908 at 1420 Second Avenue in Columbus, Georgia, this 2 1/2-story brick house is an unusual example of Richardsonian Romanesque design in the city. A short corner tower with a conical roof accents the massive brick form, while a Roman Classical portico with Corinthian columns marks the entrance. The slate roof has twin lighted dormers, and the double-door entry has a basket-arch fanlight with tracery and a stone archivolt above it. Four ribbon windows on the second story carry stone extrados with keystones. Henry Lindsay Woodruff, president of Columbus Ice and Cold Storage Company, lived here with his family from 1908 until his death in 1921, and relatives stayed on for years afterward. The house sits in the former elite 'High Uptown' neighborhood. After World War II, a son and grandson of Woodruff used it as offices while helping found WRBL Radio and TV, until a new station building was constructed. It is now used as offices.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for local history as the home of Henry Lindsay Woodruff, a prominent businessman who was president of Columbus Ice and Cold Storage Company. It also served as early offices of WRBL Radio and TV. Architecturally, it is described as a rare and unique example of Richardsonian Romanesque style in Columbus.
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 80001213, listed September 29, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1420 2nd Ave., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | September 29, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001213 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque with Roman Classicism portico |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as offices; described as in good repair, with the surrounding neighborhood noted as now apartment rentals and office conversions. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | High Uptown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.47327, -84.99014 (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 80001213.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134438527
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.