Yow House
Also known as: Vandiver Residence
Why it's listed
Built around 1900 by E. C. Maret, a schoolteacher and landowner, this house at 109 Hartwell Road in Lavonia began as a modest one-and-one-half story Victorian residence with a wrap-around porch. Dr. S. B. Yow, a local merchant and partner in the Yow-McMurray store, bought it in 1901 and gradually assembled about 16 acres that functioned as a small working farm. In 1921 the house was largely dismantled, moved back from the street and rebuilt by local builder Mr. O'Kelly, gaining a two-story columned porch, a fanlight and sidelights at the entrance, and its Colonial Revival look. A Delco power house gave it electricity early for Lavonia. The Yows planted hollies, oaks, cedars, ginkgos and other trees. Outbuildings include a barn, carriage house, rental residence and gazebo. It was listed for its architecture, agriculture, landscape architecture and commerce, and later owners included Governor S. Ernest Vandiver.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the finest local example of early 20th century Colonial Revival architecture, created when a Victorian house was moved and remodeled in 1921. It is also significant for agriculture as the core of a small in-town farm, for its informal specimen landscaping, and for commerce as the home of merchant S. B. Yow.
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 83000226, listed September 1, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 109 Hartwell Rd., Lavonia |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | September 1, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000226 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Mr. O'Kelly (local builder); original owner E. C. Maret |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival (originally Victorian 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. |
| Acreage | 2.4 |
| Coordinates | 34.43380, -83.10031 (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 83000226.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134305505
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.