Stovall-Purcell House
Also known as: Purcell Residence
Why it's listed
Built in 1912 at 110 West Avenue in Lavonia, this one-and-one-half story house was the home of Lee Stovall, Sr., who built it shortly after his marriage. The weatherboard dwelling has a wide front gable above a screened porch, a half-glass front door, exposed rafter ends, interior mantels and a vaulted living room ceiling. A side porch was enclosed in 1951 and a kitchen was added at the rear in 1965. The lot of one and one-half acres was carved from the 200-acre homestead of Stovall's father, Thomas, a pioneer citizen of Lavonia. The house is considered important for blending Victorian-era design with craftsman detailing, showing the shift toward Bungalow-inspired styling, and it is the only example of that combination in the local survey area. It also marks the growth of Lavonia's western side, where settlement had been rural before houses on city-sized lots appeared along West Avenue.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be significant architecturally as a transitional example combining Victorian-era design with craftsman detailing, and the only such example in the multiple resource area. It is also tied to the pioneer Stovall family and illustrates the westward expansion of Lavonia's city development along West Avenue.
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 83000221, listed September 1, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 110 West Ave., Lavonia |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | September 1, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000221 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Transitional: Victorian-era design combined with craftsman (Bungalow-inspired) detailing |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and still used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 34.43346, -83.11489 (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 83000221.
- 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.