Ponder, Ephraim, House
Also known as: Sholar House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built around 1854-56 by Ephraim Ponder, this two-and-one-half-story house at 324 North Dawson Street in Thomasville has a hipped roof, clapboard siding, panelled end pilasters and a cornice combining dentils with pendant drop brackets. The north doorway has leaded glass sidelights, a fixed transom and a heavy frame carved with dentils and rosettes. The south facade, facing the former Young's Female College property, is Greek Revival in detail with an exceptional entrance. Ponder sold the house to Colonel William Young, who gave it to the college, where it served as a dormitory and then as the president's residence. In 1900 two women bought it, divided it into two apartments and named the property Greensquare for its evergreen plantings. Later owners restored it as a single-family home. A wing was added to the east side, and a wrought iron fence encloses the grounds. The nomination describes it as an ante-bellum home of great dignity and quiet distinction.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as an ante-bellum home of great dignity and quiet distinction, with notable architectural detail including a detailed north doorway and a Greek Revival south facade. It also records the house's use by the Young's Female College as a dormitory and president's residence, and its later restoration.
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 70000223, listed August 12, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 324 N. Dawson St., Thomasville |
|---|---|
| County | Thomas County |
| Listed | August 12, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000223 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date c.1854-56) |
| Architect / builder | Ephraim Ponder (builder) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival detailing on the south facade |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, occupied as a private single-family residence, restored from its 1900 conversion into two apartments. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Thomasville Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase and Decrease) |
| Coordinates | 30.83889, -83.98205 (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 70000223.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q30622974
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.