Mills House
Also known as: Lewis-Mills House
Why it's listed
Built around 1855 on a corner lot at North Hill and Tinsley Streets in Griffin, this two-story brick house is a temple-front Greek Revival town house. Four colossal square Doric columns support a pediment, and the stuccoed walls have tall windows framed by low triangular pediments. Inside is the typical four-room, central-hall plan of Georgia's piedmont in the 1840s and 1850s. The house was built for the Lewis family, originally from Massachusetts. Emily Lewis lived there during the Civil War with her granddaughter Lavonia Hammond, who later married John B. Mills. The Mills family had come from Savannah, where they shipped cotton, and kept the house until 1936. Its stark geometry and carved doorway moldings suggest the influence of Georgia architect Charles B. Cluskey. When documented, the house was deteriorated and divided into apartments, yet most original detailing and the basic structure remained intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an exceptionally fine example in the area of the temple-front Greek Revival town house. Its form and interior detailing resemble work by architect Charles B. Cluskey, though his involvement is only suggested. It is also tied to the Lewis and Hammond families and to the Mills family, a prominent Griffin family that occupied it for most of its history.
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 72001468, listed October 18, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 406 N. Hill St., Griffin |
|---|---|
| County | Spalding County |
| Listed | October 18, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001468 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (c. 1855) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as deteriorated and used for several apartments, though most original detailing remains and the basic structure appears sound. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 33.25390, -84.26334 (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 72001468.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15378758
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.