Amis-Elder House
Also known as: Courtney B. Elder Place
Why it's listed
Near Crawford in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, this two-story frame house dates to about 1805 and is an early example of the plain style once common across the South. It has two rooms up and three down, a one-story rear wing, and stepped brick end chimneys laid in American bond. Inside, wide pine boards, tall dadoes, six-panel doors and a Federal parlor mantel show the work of skilled craftsmen, and early wood-grain painting survives on doors and dadoes. The land was sold to Thomas Amis in 1810 and later passed through the Aycock and Elder families. Georgia houses of this type from before the 1820s are now rare, and this one has changed relatively little despite continuous occupation for about 170 years. Its architecture, along with what it shows of small planters and middle-class farmers, led to its listing. The house has since been extensively restored, and the nominated land was part of the original farm acquired in 1810.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant mainly for its architecture, as a now-rare, relatively little altered early plain-style Southern house. Georgia examples from before the 1820s are very rare, and many of those that survive are deteriorated or spoiled by remodeling. It also reflects the life of small planters and later middle-class farmers, and it retains early wood-grain painting and fine Federal woodwork.
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 78000997, listed August 2, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Crawford on Elder Rd., Crawford |
|---|---|
| County | Oglethorpe County |
| Listed | August 2, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000997 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Early plain-style (plantation plain) frame house with Federal interior detailing |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Continuously occupied for about 170 years; the house was extensively restored after the nomination was submitted and was reported in good condition. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 33.81803, -83.26511 (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 78000997.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.