Kelley, James, House
Also known as: Kelley--Mertz House; Greenwood
Why it's listed
Set on the outskirts of Tennille, Georgia, this one-and-one-half-story Craftsman bungalow was built in 1919 for James and Eugenia Kelley after fire destroyed their earlier home. Architect Charles E. Choate designed it with stucco walls, a tile roof, faux half-timbering in the gables, a porte-cochere and a concrete front porch. Inside are paneled walls, built-in cabinets, and classically inspired mantels, with Ionic columns at the main front room. The house matters chiefly for its architecture. Choate's other local work was Victorian Eclectic and Classical Revival, so this bungalow shows a wider design vocabulary, and it was his last building in Washington County. The property also preserves the setting of a large early twentieth-century farm. James Kelley was named a Master Farmer by the University of Georgia's College of Agriculture in the 1920s. Historic barns, sheds, tenant houses and a wind mill tower survive nearby, though none were designed by Choate.
Significance in brief: The house is an unusual local example of a Craftsman bungalow with eclectic detailing, a rare style for Choate, whose work in the county was mostly Victorian Eclectic and Classical Revival. It was also the last building he designed in Washington County, marking the end of his local career. It is further linked to James Kelley, a university-designated "Master Farmer" of the 1920s.
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 94000712, listed July 28, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Tennille--Harrison Rd. E of jct. with GA 15, Tennille |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | July 28, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000712 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1919 |
| Architect / builder | Charles E. Choate, architect |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements: Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is a single dwelling; outbuildings remain in poor to good condition. |
| Acreage | 15 |
| Coordinates | 32.93158, -82.79945 (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 94000712.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q65070513
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.