Chattooga Academy
Also known as: Gordon, John B., Hall
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Why it's listed
Chattooga Academy is a two-story red-brick schoolhouse on North Main Street in LaFayette, Georgia, built in 1836 and later known as John B. Gordon Hall. Its symmetrical front, thin flat door moldings, and stuccoed brick lintels with brick keystones reflect the Federal style as carried out by frontier settlers. Brick was uncommon in northwest Georgia at the time, and the building is believed to be one of the oldest school structures remaining in the state. Authorized by the General Assembly in 1835, the academy opened in 1837-38 and taught boys and girls, including future general and governor John B. Gordon. During the Civil War it served as a temporary headquarters for General Braxton Bragg and was a focus of skirmishing in the Battle of LaFayette. Used for schooling until the 1920s, it was bought by three women's clubs in 1924 and dedicated as Gordon Hall in 1925. The city now owns it, and the Chamber of Commerce occupies it after renovations begun in 1971.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a fine example of Federal-style and early rural school architecture, and is believed to be one of the oldest academy buildings remaining in Georgia. It helped advance education in frontier northwest Georgia and was the boyhood school of John B. Gordon. It was also the site of fighting in the Battle of LaFayette during the Civil War.
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 80001253, listed February 15, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 306 N. Main St., LaFayette |
|---|---|
| County | Walker County |
| Listed | February 15, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001253 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1836) |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the City of LaFayette, occupied and used by the LaFayette Area Chamber of Commerce after renovation begun in 1971. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.70870, -85.28077 (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 80001253.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q29093362
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.