Vandiver House
Why it's listed
Built in 1922 on Main Street in Lavonia, this one-and-one-half story frame house reflects Craftsman-inspired design. It rests on a brick foundation and has a gabled roof with a central chimney and two symmetrical dormers. A pedimented entrance porch with tapered wooden columns on brick pillars shelters a glazed door with sidelights and a transom. Exposed rafter ends and bracketed eaves add period detailing, and inside are a vaulted living room ceiling, tongue and groove paneling and original mantels. A rear garage and a small brick office stand on the 1.5 acre nominated lot. Local builder Jack Grubbs constructed the house for S. E. Vandiver, Sr., a large landowner who ran his farming operations from the office and developed a cotton seed called "Vandiver's Heavy" in the 1930s. His son Ernest Vandiver, Jr., raised here, later served as Governor of Georgia from 1958 to 1963. The house is listed for its architecture, agriculture and local political history.
Significance in brief: It is a good local example of Craftsman-inspired design built by a local builder responsible for several structures in the area. It is associated with S. E. Vandiver, Sr., a large landowner who developed a cotton seed called "Vandiver's Heavy" in the 1930s. It is also associated with the Vandiver family, including Ernest Vandiver, Jr., raised here and Governor of Georgia from 1958 to 1963.
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 83000222, listed September 1, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Lavonia |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | September 1, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000222 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Jack Grubbs |
| Architectural style | Craftsman-inspired bungalow |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In good condition; currently used as a rental and still owned by the Vandiver family. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 34.44130, -83.10986 (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 83000222.
- 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.