Roberts-McGregor House
Also known as: McGregor, Charles E., House
Why it's listed
Set one block from the courthouse square in Warrenton, this two-story brick house with a basement was built between about 1835 and 1842 by Dr. Henry Lockhart, a farmer, state senator and physician. Bankrupt in 1847, he sold it to Jesse M. Roberts, who completed it. Its eighteen-inch clay-brick walls, stepped gables and double-end chimneys reflect the Federal style, while the doorway, central-hall plan, plasterwork and mantels show Greek Revival influence. Brick was seldom used for houses in Georgia at the time, and the house is unusually large for a country town. Major Charles E. McGregor, who married Roberts's daughter Mary Lou, added the monumental Neo-classical portico and redesigned the magnolia and boxwood gardens in the early twentieth century. McGregor served in the legislature and edited the local newspaper. His daughters lived in the house until 1966, when crumbling bricks made it unstable. The house has since stood unoccupied, with its gardens overgrown, awaiting restoration.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant in architecture, landscape architecture and local history. It is a rare brick example of the transitional Federal/Greek Revival style, unusually large for a Georgia country town, and the longtime home of the locally and state-prominent Roberts and McGregor families. Its overgrown formal gardens add landscape interest.
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 79000750, listed August 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Depot St., Warrenton |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | August 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000750 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1835-1842 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by Dr. Henry Lockhart; completed by Jesse M. Roberts) |
| Architectural style | Transitional Federal/Greek Revival, with 1920s Neo-classical portico |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unoccupied for many years with minimal restoration; the northwest corner deteriorated and was shored up, and the grounds are overgrown. The owner intended to restore it. |
| Acreage | 2.9 |
| Within district | Warrenton Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.40776, -82.66206 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 79000750.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.