Webster County Courthouse
Why it's listed
Webster County Courthouse stands on Courthouse Square in Preston, Georgia, and dates to 1915. T. F. Lockwood is named as architect and builder, with Shields, Geise, and Rawlings as contractor. The brick building with stone trim is Neo-Classical in style. A projecting tetrastyle entrance carries a full entablature and pediment, and a belvedere sits on the hipped roof. First-floor windows are rectangular with striped flat arched lintels of stone and brick, while second-story windows are round arched with emphasized keystones and voussoirs. A denticulated cornice completes the exterior. Inside, the most important feature is an ornate pressed metal courtroom ceiling. The courthouse was listed because of its architecture and local standing. The belvedere is described as rare among Georgia courthouses, which usually have clock towers. It is also called the most important structure in Preston, a community with a population of only 226. The form rates its condition as fair.
Significance in brief: The form argues the courthouse is architecturally notable because its belvedere is rare in Georgia, where a clock tower is usually used instead. It also describes the building as the most important structure in Preston, a town of only 226 people. The ornate pressed metal courtroom ceiling is cited as its most important interior feature.
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 80001262, listed September 18, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Courthouse Sq., Preston |
|---|---|
| County | Webster County |
| Listed | September 18, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001262 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | T. F. Lockwood (architect/builder); contractor Shields, Geise, Rawlings |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classical |
| Areas of significance | Economics, Law, Politics/Government, Architecture, Communications |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is rated fair on the survey form. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 32.06636, -84.53705 (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 80001262.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16903024
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.