Cedartown Commercial Historic District
Also known as: See Also:Hawkes Children's Library
Why it's listed
Downtown Cedartown's commercial core is a grid of streets focused on South Main Street and a courthouse square, planned in 1851 when Polk County was formed. Most buildings are one- and two-story attached brick storefronts built from the 1870s to 1942, with corbeled cornices, arched windows, cast-iron columns and terra cotta trim. Landmark buildings include the 1914 Neoclassical Revival post office by Oscar Wenderoth, the 1919 Hawkes Children's Library by Neel Reid, the 1935 former city hall by Otis Clay Poundston, and the 1941 Art Deco West Theater, still used as a theater. Transportation resources include a 1910 arched concrete bridge, a 1920s warehouse beside the railroad, and several 1920s gas stations. The railroad arrived in 1873 and spurred commercial growth along South Main. The district was listed for its role as the business and government center of the county and for its representative small-town architecture. Later demolitions have left gaps, though facade improvements were underway.
Significance in brief: The district is the intact historic commercial and governmental center of Cedartown and Polk County, laid out in 1851 and boosted by the railroad arriving in 1873. It is significant under Criterion A for its development as a business and government center, and under Criterion C for typical small-town commercial, civic and transportation buildings.
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 92001715, listed December 24, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by East Ave. and S. Philpot, Gibson and College Sts., Cedartown |
|---|---|
| County | Polk County |
| Listed | December 24, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001715 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1851-1942 |
| Architect / builder | Oscar Wenderoth; Otis Clay Poundston; Neel Reid; A. L. and H. B. Clay |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Late Gothic Revival, Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, Tudor Revival, Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Commerce, Transportation, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Many buildings remain in use, including the West Theater, post office, and courthouse annex; some historic structures have been demolished and several facades were being restored under a Main Street Program. |
| Acreage | 30 |
| Coordinates | 34.01112, -85.25547 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 92001715.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16890162
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.