Terrell County Courthouse
Why it's listed
Terrell County Courthouse in Dawson, Georgia, was built in 1892 from designs by W. H. Parkins, with J. B. Sample as contractor, at a cost of $36,832. Its brick walls are trimmed with granite, terra cotta and pressed metal. The building is asymmetrically massed, with a tall pyramidal corner clock tower accented by turrets, a lesser tower with huge double Romanesque arches, and a one-story gabled entrance porch capped by a stepped gable. Additional turrets, one with an onion dome, plus gables, balconies and round-arched, rectangular and Palladian windows give the exterior a dramatic, varied character. It is cited as the best example of High Victorian style in Georgia, drawing on many styles. The interior was renovated in 1936 and later extensively remodeled with light paneling, new lighting and theatre seats in the courtroom, so it has changed drastically. The exterior is considered the more architecturally important part. A non-historic jail sits behind the courthouse on its small block.
Significance in brief: The exterior is described as the best example of High Victorian style among Georgia courthouses, combining a mix of styles. The exterior is judged of more architectural importance than the heavily remodeled interior. The form also refers to the significance of the architect, W. H. Parkins.
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 80001244, listed September 18, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E. Lee St., Dawson |
|---|---|
| County | Terrell County |
| Listed | September 18, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001244 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | W. H. Parkins (architect/builder); J. B. Sample (contractor) |
| Architectural style | High Victorian |
| Areas of significance | Economics, Law, Politics/Government, Architecture, Communications |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, with extensive interior remodeling; renovated in 1936 at a cost of $21,699. A non-historic jail stands at the rear. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | Dawson Historict District |
| Coordinates | 31.77337, -84.44583 (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 80001244.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q55634968
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.