Freeman-Hurt House
Also known as: Hurt Place
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Why it's listed
Along the Old Tennessee Road, one mile south of Oakman in Gordon County, Georgia, a large hand-hewn log house stands with its barn, guest house and other outbuildings. Built around 1832, it is credited to Burdine Swann, a Cherokee mixed-breed carpenter from Pickens County. The house began as a dog-trot log building, later enclosed and extended to two and one-half stories, with a north wing added in the 1840s or 1850s. It was first part of Cherokee farm culture, then served as a supply post for drovers and planters heading from Tennessee toward Augusta, and later grew into a plantation with a guest house called Travellers' Rest. James Freeman is the first known owner, and the Freeman-Hurt family held it until the late 1940s. Its listing rests on its status as the largest known log structure in Georgia, its age and preservation, and its link to the Cherokee period and later regional development. It is now used for hay storage.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house reflects North Georgia history from Cherokee farm culture through supply post, plantation and later farm use. It is described as the largest known log structure in Georgia, and its age and state of preservation add to its importance. It also adds to the short list of surviving log houses in the state.
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 76000636, listed January 1, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S of Oakman on U.S. 411, Oakman |
|---|---|
| County | Gordon County |
| Listed | January 1, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000636 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Burdine Swann |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Historic - Aboriginal, Native American, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in fair or good condition though deteriorating; unoccupied since the late 1950s or early 1960s and now used for hay storage. |
| Acreage | 30 |
| Coordinates | 34.55151, -84.70484 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 76000636.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q29093138
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.