Telfair County Courthouse and Jail
Why it's listed
Telfair County's courthouse and jail stand together on Courthouse Square in McRae, Georgia. The two-story brick courthouse was rebuilt in 1934 after a fire on February 9 destroyed the 1904 building, reusing that building's walls. Macon architects Dennis & Dennis designed it in the Colonial Revival style, with an in antis portico, three arched entrances, paired pilasters, arched windows and keystones. Inside, terrazzo floors, original hardware and a classically detailed courtroom survive. Beside it is the 1902 brick jail, the first brick jail in the county, which the county still uses. The complex is listed for its role as the center of county government and for its architecture. The courthouse is the fourth in McRae and the sixth in Telfair County. It is also one of seven Georgia courthouses of its era not documented as funded by Depression relief programs.
Significance in brief: The courthouse is a good, intact example of a Colonial Revival community landmark building from the 1930s, and the work of Georgia's oldest architectural firm. The jail is an intact turn-of-the-century correction facility and the county's first brick jail. Together they have been the center of county government in McRae since 1902.
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 95000720, listed June 8, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Courthouse Sq., McRae |
|---|---|
| County | Telfair County |
| Listed | June 8, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000720 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1902-1945 (amended by the Keeper from the 1904-1945 stated in the form) |
| Architect / builder | Dennis & Dennis - architect; A. E. Aittner - contractor |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals: Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Both the courthouse and the jail are still used for their original government functions, and the jail is still used as a county correction facility. The courthouse has had no major changes to its interior or exterior. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 32.06711, -82.89645 (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 95000720.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17049968
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.