Mar 25, 1977
National Register of Historic Places - William P. Nicolson House
Statement of Significance: The Nicolson House is significant to the people of the City of Atlanta and to the region for four primary and interrelated (1) W. T. Downing, a respected and important Atlanta architect was the designer of numerous residential, commercial and public buildings in Atlanta. Downing was chosen by the coordinating architectural firm of Bradford Gilbert to design the Fine Arts Building at the Cotton State Exposition of 1895 in Piedmont Park. The Nicolson House is only one of five residences designed by Downing known to still exist in Atlanta and the only one surviving that represents a distinctive stylistic formula used by him in the commissions of the early to mid-1890's. (2) The house, as it exists today, faithfully represents an individualism of architectural character of the late nineteenth century eclectic period, before eclectic "styles" became formalized and academic. The house has remained in the ownership of the Nicolson family and has been kept in original form with few alterations. All the design elements and decorations of the house are still intact. (3) The house is important to Atlanta because of the associative values connected with the life of Dr. William Perrin Nicolson who was considered a prominent surgeon, Dean and teacher at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in Atlanta, and President of the Georgia Medical Association. The house represents the prestigious position held by Dr. Nicolson in Atlanta society. The doctor gave the architect a free reign in the design of the house, citing as a parallel the necessity that a doctor must approach a patient, examine thoroughly, and prescribe for that patient a method of treatment, based on objectivity and professional judgment, knowing exactly the needs of the patient and how to reach that goal. (4) Fin- ally, the house is an initial part of the present Mid-Town neighborhood, which was important in the early 1890's in establishing a movement to the fashionable suburbs on the north side of Atlanta. The development of this area in connection with Piedmont Park played an important role in housing patterns in Atlanta by influencing new northern growth into areas such as Ansley Park suburb after the turn of the century. Before that period the acceptable neighborhood for Atlanta society had developed along street car rail lines in southwest and east Atlanta and along Peachtree Street just north of the central business district. The Nicolson House is one of the most important landmarks of the Mid-Town community. This is a neighborhood presently undergoing both change and renovation. In this context of homes dating from the 1890's into the early twentieth century, the house offers diversity in style, excellent use of materials and craftsmanship.
National Register of Historic Places - William P. Nicolson House
Statement of Significance: The Nicolson House is significant to the people of the City of Atlanta and to the region for four primary and interrelated (1) W. T. Downing, a respected and important Atlanta architect was the designer of numerous residential, commercial and public buildings in Atlanta. Downing was chosen by the coordinating architectural firm of Bradford Gilbert to design the Fine Arts Building at the Cotton State Exposition of 1895 in Piedmont Park. The Nicolson House is only one of five residences designed by Downing known to still exist in Atlanta and the only one surviving that represents a distinctive stylistic formula used by him in the commissions of the early to mid-1890's. (2) The house, as it exists today, faithfully represents an individualism of architectural character of the late nineteenth century eclectic period, before eclectic "styles" became formalized and academic. The house has remained in the ownership of the Nicolson family and has been kept in original form with few alterations. All the design elements and decorations of the house are still intact. (3) The house is important to Atlanta because of the associative values connected with the life of Dr. William Perrin Nicolson who was considered a prominent surgeon, Dean and teacher at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in Atlanta, and President of the Georgia Medical Association. The house represents the prestigious position held by Dr. Nicolson in Atlanta society. The doctor gave the architect a free reign in the design of the house, citing as a parallel the necessity that a doctor must approach a patient, examine thoroughly, and prescribe for that patient a method of treatment, based on objectivity and professional judgment, knowing exactly the needs of the patient and how to reach that goal. (4) Fin- ally, the house is an initial part of the present Mid-Town neighborhood, which was important in the early 1890's in establishing a movement to the fashionable suburbs on the north side of Atlanta. The development of this area in connection with Piedmont Park played an important role in housing patterns in Atlanta by influencing new northern growth into areas such as Ansley Park suburb after the turn of the century. Before that period the acceptable neighborhood for Atlanta society had developed along street car rail lines in southwest and east Atlanta and along Peachtree Street just north of the central business district. The Nicolson House is one of the most important landmarks of the Mid-Town community. This is a neighborhood presently undergoing both change and renovation. In this context of homes dating from the 1890's into the early twentieth century, the house offers diversity in style, excellent use of materials and craftsmanship.
Mar 25, 1977
Posted Date
Aug 09, 2023
Historical Record Date
Mar 25, 1977
Source Name
National Register of Historic Places
