Lovvorn, Dr. James L., House
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Why it's listed
Built in 1896 on the edge of downtown Bowdon, Georgia, this two-story Queen Anne house was constructed from mail-order plans by George F. Barber of Knoxville, Tennessee. It has irregular massing, a corner bay, projecting gables, a prominent front porch, latticework, spindles and stained glass. Inside, heart pine trim, mirrored mantels and original brass fixtures survive, and the mantels are largely attributed to local craftsman John Carden. A brick generator house built for the home's gas lighting system and a c. 1930 garage remain on the lot. The house was built for Dr. James L. Lovvorn, a physician who came to Bowdon as a college student. He later organized the Bank of Bowdon in 1905, owned the Bowdon Oil Mills, and headed the company that built the Bowdon Railway in 1909-1910. From 1919 until his death in 1926 he presided over the board of the local state college. Professors and visiting lecturers often stayed at the house, which also had modern conveniences unusual for the town at the time.
Significance in brief: The house is an intact example of Queen Anne architecture with Eastlake details, built from plans by the nationally known mail-order architect George F. Barber. It was also the home of Dr. James L. Lovvorn (1862-1926), a physician who led Bowdon's college board and founded its bank, oil mills and railway.
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 88000595, listed May 19, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 113 E. College St., Bowdon |
|---|---|
| County | Carroll County |
| Listed | May 19, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000595 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1896-1926 |
| Architect / builder | Barber, George F., Architect; Lovvorn, Dr. James L. (owner-builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single dwelling; the 1930s roof and chimneys were replaced after a tornado and 1940s and 1977 changes were made to the kitchen area. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Bowdon Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.53833, -85.25309 (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 88000595.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14686618
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.