Kilby, James Henry and Rachel, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1898 by farmer Henry Kilby, this two-story I-house with a one-and-a-half story rear ell sits in the rural Persimmon community of Rabun County, northeast Georgia. It has a hall-parlor plan, original unpainted yellow poplar shiplap siding, native stone chimneys, and pine and poplar interior finishes. A transverse crib barn of hand-hewn logs, built at the same time, stands northeast of the house. The property was once part of a farm of more than 160 acres. The Kilby family grew corn, raised mules, cattle, sheep, hogs and chickens, and sold milk, butter, eggs and woolen goods. Henry Kilby also ran a blacksmith shop and a gristmill. The house is valued as a good example of an I-house, a type less common in Georgia than in other southeastern states, and as a rare, intact small mountain farm. Its period of significance runs from about 1898 to 1950, when the Kilby heirs sold the land. Later owners restored it in the 1960s and added modern conveniences.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be an excellent example of an I-house with a rear ell, a house type less common in Georgia than elsewhere in the Southeast. The barn is a good example of a transverse crib barn. Together they are a rare, intact survivor of a small family farm in the Georgia mountains, significant in architecture and agriculture.
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 05000078, listed February 24, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 28 Tumbling Waters Ln., Clayton |
|---|---|
| County | Rabun County |
| Listed | February 24, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000078 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1898-1950 |
| Architect / builder | James Henry Kilby |
| Architectural style | OTHER/I-HOUSE |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant or used for hay storage in the 1950s until 1961, when it was bought and renovated as a residence; since 1973 it has been used by the adjacent camp and for guests. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.94412, -83.49432 (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 05000078.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85770660
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.