Singleton House
Why it's listed
Built around 1854, this Greek Revival plantation house sits seven miles west of Eatonton, near the Willard community in Putnam County. It is a story-and-a-half frame house with four exterior chimneys, a central pedimented portico with simple Doric columns, and tall entablatured windows. Two rear rooms were added soon after construction, giving it an L-shape. Inside, a central hall plan has four downstairs rooms, each seventeen feet square. The house was built for David and Rebecca Singleton, who bought land with money provided in her father's will and acquired much more in the district. Their plantation grew cotton and grains and helped support the farming village of Avelina, later renamed Willard. The builder, possibly a carpenter named Suiter, blended classical forms with early Italianate details such as round-headed upstairs windows and broad eaves. A Parisian plasterer reportedly made the ceiling medallions and cornices. After years of decline, the house was restored in the early 1970s.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding example of a modest yet classically sophisticated plantation residence, originally owned by David and Rebecca Singleton. Its craftsmanship combines Greek Revival form with early Italianate touches such as round-headed second-story windows and wide eaves. It also reflects the plantation economy that supported the former village of Avelina, later Willard.
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 74000701, listed October 1, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Eatonton off GA 16, Eatonton |
|---|---|
| County | Putnam County |
| Listed | October 1, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000701 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (c.1854) |
| Architect / builder | Oral tradition names a man called Suiter as builder; the 1860 census lists a carpenter, S. J. Suiter. A Parisian plasterer reportedly made the plasterwork. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, with Italianate Revival influences |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in the early 1970s after being run-down; described as in excellent condition, altered, and used as a private weekend-farm residence. |
| Acreage | 60 |
| Coordinates | 33.30096, -83.49711 (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 74000701.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7524104
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.