Berry, Thomas A., House
Why it's listed
Perched atop Fort Hill overlooking Dalton, Georgia, this two-story wood-frame house at 506 Hawthorne Street was built in 1882 in the Victorian Eclectic style. Its features include a one-story wraparound porch, wooden brackets at the eaves and porch, a bay window, stained glass, an oval beveled-glass front door and seven coal-burning fireplaces with original mantels. Hand-hewn beams, cut nails and original gas pipes survive. The Reverend David P. Bass had it built as a wedding gift for his daughter Mary Elizabeth and her husband, Thomas A. Berry, who with his brother ran the T. A. and S. E. Berry Hardware Firm, one of north Georgia's largest. The family kept the house until 1946. It was listed for its architectural integrity, as one of a few Victorian homes left in a once-affluent part of Dalton, and for its link to the Berry family and local commerce. Later changes include a 1895 addition and 1981 accessibility and safety features.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a good, intact example of Victorian Eclectic architecture that keeps its original setting, appearance and most significant interior and exterior features. It is one of a handful of Victorian-era homes left in a once-affluent section of Dalton. It is also significant in local history as the wedding-gift home of Thomas A. Berry, co-owner of a major north Georgia hardware firm.
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 84001303, listed April 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 506 Hawthorne St., Dalton |
|---|---|
| County | Whitfield County |
| Listed | April 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001303 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Victorian Eclectic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in good condition, altered; present use is listed as a health facility. Changes include a 1895 bedroom and bath addition and 1981 additions of a fire escape, handicapped-access walkway and carport. |
| Acreage | 1.4 |
| Coordinates | 34.77584, -84.96298 (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 84001303.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16823117
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.