Towns County Jail
Also known as: Old Towns County Jail
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Why it's listed
Built in 1935-36, this two-story rock jail sits on Courthouse Square in downtown Hiawassee, Georgia. It replaced an earlier jail unroofed by high winds in March 1935. County officials worked with the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and followed a design similar to the Union County jail, completing the building for $4,353. The structure has raised mortar rock walls, a hipped roof, a front porch with square rock columns and exposed rafter ends, and a central hall plan with the original jail works on the second floor. It was the fourth jail in Towns County and served as the county's only jail for 45 years, until a joint county jail replaced it in the early 1970s. It was renovated in 1980 for city use, and a concrete block addition now houses a fire truck. The building is recognized for its mountain vernacular design in local stone and as an example of federal work relief in the 1930s.
Significance in brief: The jail is significant in architecture for its vernacular design, which uses indigenous rock to reflect its mountain county setting. In politics and government, it was the fourth jail for Towns County and shows the use of a federal relief program (F.E.R.A.) during the 1930s to create jobs and a needed community facility. It served as the county's only jail for 45 years.
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 85002087, listed September 13, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Courthouse Square, Hiawassee |
|---|---|
| County | Towns County |
| Listed | September 13, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002087 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Federal Emergency Relief Administration |
| Architectural style | Vernacular with Craftsman details (square rock columns, exposed rafter ends) |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Renovated in 1980 for use as Hiawassee City Hall; current use listed as City Hall/Fire Department. Condition described as good to fair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.94645, -83.75728 (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 85002087.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q28153768
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.