Lavonia Roller Mill
Why it's listed
Lavonia Roller Mill is a two-story brick flour mill on East Main Street in Lavonia, Georgia. Built in 1898 by a stockholding company, it could produce 90 barrels of flour a day, sold under the names White Rose and White Lilly. The building has segmental arched six-over-six windows and three bays, each topped by a rectangular panel used for signage. Ownership passed through T. W. McAllister, J. B. McBrayer and, from 1932, the Mauldin family. A fire in 1944 destroyed the interior, and the roof was changed from flat to gabled. Repairs followed, along with frame additions and, in 1956, a three-story brick addition at the rear. The mill was listed as the town's second local industry, founded during Lavonia's boom period. It reflects the New South encouragement of industry in small towns and the local aim of diversifying the economy by drawing on regional grain farming, in contrast to the cotton-based oil company. Its plain building represents small-town industrial architecture in Georgia.
Significance in brief: The mill is significant in industry as Lavonia's second local industry, established during the town's boom period. It reflects the "New South" push for industrial development in small towns and local efforts to diversify the economy using regional grain. Its utilitarian building is representative of Georgia's small-town industrial architecture.
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 83000214, listed September 1, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E. Main St., Lavonia |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | September 1, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000214 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in use as a flour milling business, making flour, meal and cattle feed, at the time of the form. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 34.43372, -83.10456 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 83000214.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134305452
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.