South Georgia College Administration Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1892 and opened in January 1893, this two-story brick building was the first and, at the start, only building of South Georgia College in McRae. The Methodist Church's South Georgia Conference sponsored the co-educational school, and McRae won the location vote in 1892. The building cost $20,000 and originally held eight large classrooms plus rooms for art, music, reading and a library. Its plain brick design reflects the church's modest approach to education. A recessed two-column entrance, a central tower and an attached auditorium with wood-and-steel trusses are among its features. The college grew to include dormitories, a science hall and other buildings, but closed after the 1927-28 term when the Conference withdrew support. The building was sold to the local school district in 1929, served as the high school until the 1960s, then housed primary grades. In 1979 it passed to local historical and arts organizations. The auditorium's acoustics have drawn praise from visiting musicians.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant in architecture as the main building of a co-educational college sponsored by the Methodist Church, with plain brick detailing reflecting the church's un-ostentatious approach. It is significant in education for the role the school played in the South Georgia Conference of the Methodist Church, which chose McRae as the college site in 1892.
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 80001243, listed October 16, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | College St., McRae |
|---|---|
| County | Telfair County |
| Listed | October 16, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001243 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1892) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian school building with simple details; no particular stylistic elements |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered. The auditorium is still used for entertainment functions, and two rooms are used for primary grades. The title was transferred in December 1979 to a historical society and an arts association. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.06816, -82.91013 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 80001243.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q43080791
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.