McMurray House
Also known as: McMurry Residence
Why it's listed
This two-story brick house on Hartwell Road in Lavonia was built for E. R. McMurray by a local builder, Mr. O'Kelly. The form gives conflicting construction dates, 1912 in one place and 1923 in the history. McMurray arrived in Lavonia in 1900 and went into the general mercantile business with his cousin, Dr. S. B. Yow, and the earlier frame family home on the lot was demolished for the new house. The house blends Georgian Revival and Craftsman influences, with a hipped and gabled roof, brick-pier front porch, bracketed eaves and original six-over-one windows. Inside, a vaulted wood living room ceiling, wooden doors and moldings, and an open, asymmetric plan show the Craftsman influence. Its solid brick walls are laid with an internal air space, an unusual technique, and brick houses are uncommon in Lavonia. The property is significant for architecture and for its link to the Yow-McMurray store, which operated for more than fifty years.
Significance in brief: It is a good example of a builder-designed eclectic house that combines Georgian Revival and Craftsman elements, with a notable Craftsman-inspired interior and an unusual air-space brick wall. It is also one of few brick houses in Lavonia. It is tied to E. R. McMurray, a downtown merchant from 1900 to 1947.
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 83000215, listed September 1, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Hartwell Rd., Lavonia |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | September 1, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000215 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Mr. O'Kelly |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival and Craftsman influences (builder-designed eclectic) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and in use as a residence; the form notes no alterations. |
| Acreage | 1.7 |
| Coordinates | 34.43325, -83.10085 (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 83000215.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134305472
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.