Bowman-Pirkle House
Why it's listed
Built in 1818 near Flowery Branch in southern Hall County, Georgia, this two-story log house began as a plantation plain type dwelling and was later covered in weatherboard. It has a double verandah, a trabeated doorway with side lights, and a stone chimney original to the house. A one-story, two-room cottage was added at the rear around 1870. John Bowman, a courier on General Andrew Jackson's staff, built it with help from Cherokee men after Major Ridge gave him a tract of land. The area had been ceded by the Cherokees in 1817, and Bowman had to buy back land grants. The house is therefore considered one of the earliest structures built and occupied by whites in the territory. Bowman, who learned herbal medicine from the Cherokees, developed a largely self-sufficient plantation. His daughter Amanda and her husband Noah Pirkle kept the house in the family until 1969, when it passed to the Hall County Historical Society. It was later moved for restoration.
Significance in brief: The house was built by John Bowman with help from Cherokee men in 1818, as the area was being ceded by the Cherokees. It is probably one of the earliest structures built and occupied by whites in this Indian territory. Andrew Jackson and the Cherokee chief Major Ridge are said to have visited during Bowman's and later Noah Pirkle's ownership.
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 73000623, listed August 14, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Buford off U.S. 23 on Friendship Rd., Buford |
|---|---|
| County | Hall County |
| Listed | August 14, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000623 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (c.1818) |
| Architect / builder | John Bowman |
| Architectural style | Plantation plain type house |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied, in fair condition and altered. It was owned by the Hall County Historical Society, with plans to move it and restore it for use as a meeting place and museum. A 1978 letter reports it was moved in November 1977 to a county water park and museum site. |
| Coordinates | 34.14255, -83.95444 (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 73000623.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q65060340
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.