Bailey, Frederick A., House
Also known as: Hill-Leonard House; The Barnard Hill House
Why it's listed
Built in 1837 on the edge of Talbotton, Georgia, this two-story weatherboard house shows Greek Revival design arriving in a town only a decade past its founding. It follows a central-hall plan with a rear ell, primitive Doric columns, a plain entrance with only a transom, and a rear porch that continues the hall. Later alterations include a kitchen addition before 1920, a double parlor made in 1950, and a widened front porch. The house is tied to Frederick A. Bailey, a clerk of the Superior Court who lost it to foreclosure in 1839. Later owners included a merchant and editor, an educator, two attorneys, and Judge Barnard Hill, whose son Walter became chancellor of the University of Georgia. A county school superintendent who wrote a handbook of Talbot County also lived there. It was surveyed by the Historic American Buildings Survey in the 1930s. Its architecture and its owners' civic roles support its local significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is architecturally significant as one of the first efforts to introduce Greek Revival style to Talbotton, soon after the area opened to settlement following the 1827 Land Lottery. It is also significant in local history because its succession of owners, including court officials, merchants, educators, editors and lawyers, took part in the town's social and political life.
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 80001238, listed September 4, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | U.S. 80, Talbotton |
|---|---|
| County | Talbot County |
| Listed | September 4, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001238 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1837) |
| Architect / builder | Unknown; Frederick A. Bailey is believed to have built the house in 1837 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in good condition, used as a private residence; altered over time but original fabric retained. |
| Acreage | 4.3 |
| Coordinates | 32.65752, -84.53504 (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 80001238.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q55612018
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.