Burton House
Also known as: Smith Residence
Why it's listed
Built in 1910 on Augusta Road in Lavonia, this one-story frame cottage was the home of James H. Burton, manager of the Southern Cotton Oil Company, which operated about a block away. It has a high hipped roof of red-painted pressed metal, a wraparound porch on round columns that also forms a car shelter, one-over-one windows, and original beveled-glass doors. A tulip-patterned stained glass window sits high in the former dining room. A sleeping porch was added in 1918, and after World War II the interior was divided into two duplex units. The grounds include a pecan grove, a narrow two-story outbuilding, and the outline of a filled fish pond. Its massing and detailing show the move from late Victorian to Craftsman styling, and it is regarded as a relatively intact local example of that style. Its link to Burton and the cotton oil company adds significance for local industry. The Burtons lived here until 1947.
Significance in brief: The house is considered a relatively intact example of a locally prevalent late Victorian-eclectic cottage, with massing and detailing that show the shift from late Victorian to Craftsman styling. It is also significant for industry, as the home of James Burton, manager of the Southern Cotton Oil Company, an important local employer.
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 83000201, listed September 1, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Augusta Rd., Lavonia |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | September 1, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000201 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian-eclectic cottage |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and divided into two duplex units, currently used as a rental. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 34.43250, -83.10746 (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 83000201.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.