Elam-Camp House
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Why it's listed
Built in 1915, this two-story brick house at 216 Jackson Street in Gordon, Georgia, is described as the first brick house in the town. It has a full basement, a partial wrap-around porch and a four-over-four room plan arranged around a central stair hall. The bricks were made by the McMillan Brick Company of Milledgeville, the business of the architect and builder, Robert McMillan, and each is stamped with the firm's name. Detailing is plain, with flat concrete lintels, large-pane windows, fireplaces with simple wooden mantels and beaded wood ceilings. The kitchen and dining room sit in the basement, recalling antebellum Southern houses. The house was built for William S. Elam, a Civil War veteran who had worked as a section foreman for the Central of Georgia Railroad, later served as a Methodist church trustee and had a Gordon street named for him. It is valued for its architecture and its link to local history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant in architecture as the first brick house built in Gordon and as a locally good example of the continuing use of the Georgian Revival style, with a four-over-four plan and simple detailing. It is also significant in local history as the home of William S. Elam, a Civil War veteran and former Central of Georgia Railroad section foreman who became a Methodist church trustee.
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 82002498, listed June 17, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 216 Jackson St., Gordon |
|---|---|
| County | Wilkinson County |
| Listed | June 17, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002498 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915 |
| Architect / builder | Robert McMillan |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival (described as Georgian Style) |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; still owned by the Elam family. The ground floor was most recently used as a florist shop. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.88326, -83.33678 (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 82002498.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16890973
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.