Pearson-Boyer Plantation
Why it's listed
Pearson-Boyer Plantation is a rural farm complex near Sparta in Hancock County, Georgia. Its main house was begun in 1854 and finished the next year for Stephen Pearson Jr. and his wife Iwanona, using enslaved labor and timber from the family's own sawmill. The one-story, central-hall house is flanked by two detached wing rooms joined by a U-shaped front porch, a layout described as unusual in Georgia. Inside, the parlor has a plaster ceiling medallion and marbled baseboards, and many original planks, pegged beams and porcelain doorknobs survive. Surviving barns, a store, a carriage house and a privy, along with sites of other outbuildings, show how a self-sufficient cotton and corn farm operated. James Madison Boyer bought the land in 1894 to keep the Pearsons in their home, and farming continued until 1937. Archaeological remains of an earlier mill and dam also lie on the property. The district was listed for its architecture and its agricultural history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house has an unusual, possibly unique U-shaped front formed by two detached wing rooms, and is a good example of the 'plantation plain cottage' type with fine plasterwork and marbling. It is also significant in agriculture as a representative cotton and corn farm from the 19th and early 20th centuries, worked first by enslaved labor and later by tenant farmers.
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 93000236, listed April 12, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Pearson Chapel Rd., Sparta |
|---|---|
| County | Hancock County |
| Listed | April 12, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000236 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1854-1855 through 1937 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | OTHER: Plantation Plain Cottage |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling and for agricultural storage and animal facilities; some outbuildings need repair, and the main house was restored beginning in 1979. |
| Acreage | 208 |
| Coordinates | 33.18339, -83.01954 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 93000236.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107001683
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.