Southeastern Holiness Institute
Also known as: Chason's Hospital; Donalsonville Hospital
Why it's listed
Built in 1914 on the northern edge of Donalsonville, Georgia, this long, narrow three-story brick building began as the Southeastern Holiness Institute, a school affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene. Local businessman T.J. Shingler and his wife Leona donated land and money for it. The school offered classes from kindergarten through college before merging with Trevecca College in Nashville in 1917. In 1918 Dr. Thomas Chason opened Chason's Hospital in the building. For about a quarter century it was the only major hospital serving extreme southwest Georgia, southeast Alabama and parts of north Florida, often giving charity care and training doctors and nurses. Designed by Macon architect Peter E. Dennis, the building shows Georgian Revival features such as a two-story Ionic portico, brick quoins and a modillioned cornice. Its heavy timber and masonry construction followed factory methods, so it could have served as a cotton mill. It remains a hospital, with a modern rear addition built in 1979.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building has dual importance: first as the Southeastern Holiness Institute, a Church of the Nazarene school supported by T.J. and Leona Rich Shingler, and then as Chason's Hospital, the first major hospital serving extreme southwest Georgia and nearby areas. It is also significant as a large, provincially designed Georgian Revival building by Macon architect Peter E. Dennis, built with slow-burning factory construction methods.
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 82002463, listed June 21, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 102 Hospital Circle, Donalsonville |
|---|---|
| County | Seminole County |
| Listed | June 21, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002463 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific dates 1914, 1918) |
| Architect / builder | Peter E. Dennis |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a hospital (Donalsonville Hospital) with a 1979 one-story addition at the rear; the ground floor has been extensively remodeled while the upper floors remain relatively intact. Condition is described as good. |
| Acreage | 4.3 |
| Coordinates | 31.05092, -84.88062 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 82002463.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q29094099
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.