Ballard, Levi, House
Also known as: Ballard-Hudson House
Why it's listed
Just northeast of Palmetto, Georgia, this two and one-half story white frame house was built in 1869-70 by Levi Ballard. It combines Greek Revival features, including a two-story portico with four fluted columns, a hanging balcony and a central-hall plan, with Victorian touches such as a bay window and bracketed eaves. The mix was deliberate: Mrs. Ballard asked for a home resembling her childhood plantation house. Inside, original wallpaper, grained wainscoting and doors, and a marbleized mantle survive, and the house has never had indoor plumbing. The roughly 19-acre property also holds barns, a privy, a smokehouse, a carriage house and formal entrance gardens. Levi Ballard farmed, served in the General Assembly, and organized the Palmetto Banking Company in 1902. The property was listed for its architecture, landscape design, archaeological potential and local history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent example of Greek Revival architecture persisting into the Victorian period, combining both styles at the request of Mrs. Ballard. It retains exceptional integrity, including original wallpaper, grained woodwork and a marbleized mantle. The gardens reflect later nineteenth century landscaping trends, the site has archaeological potential, and builder Levi Ballard was a prominent Palmetto businessman and legislator.
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 80001080, listed October 22, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | U.S. 29 and GA 154, Palmetto |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | October 22, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001080 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1869-70 |
| Architect / builder | Levi Ballard (builder) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival with Victorian influences |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Form lists the property as private and unoccupied; the house has had only electricity, a 1976 roof and minor 1908 bedroom remodeling, and the garden is overgrown. Outbuildings are used for livestock/feed and implement storage. |
| Acreage | 19 |
| Coordinates | 33.52966, -84.66190 (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 80001080.
- 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.