Adams-Matheson House
Also known as: Carswell Residence
Why it's listed
Built around 1900 at 116 Athens Street in Hartwell, this one-story frame house began as a Victorian-eclectic residence for Mrs. Dessie H. Adams, whose family ran a cotton-related business on Depot Street. J. W. Temple and the Temple family, local contractors and suppliers, constructed it. The steep metal pyramidal roof has several projecting gables, and the large front gable is decorated with fish scale shingles, a cut and turned bargeboard and bracketed eaves. Charles E. Matheson, a cotton and fertilizer merchant, acquired the property in 1915 and in 1919 added two rear rooms and a new Craftsman-style porch, again built by the Temple family. His wife, Ethel Benson, was a granddaughter of Hartwell founder John B. Benson. The house is valued for its fine late Victorian detailing, for an evolution of style typical of the town, and for its links to the Adams, Matheson and Benson families. It remains a residence in good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is architecturally significant because its evolution from Victorian-eclectic to Craftsman features reflects Hartwell's two predominant styles, and it has fine late Victorian gable detailing. It is also tied to the Temple family of local builders. It is significant in social history through the Adams, Matheson and Benson families.
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 86002003, listed September 11, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 116 Athens St., Hartwell |
|---|---|
| County | Hart County |
| Listed | September 11, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002003 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Temple family (J. W. Temple) |
| Architectural style | Victorian-eclectic with Craftsman-inspired porch |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In use as a residence and in good condition. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 34.35168, -82.94074 (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 86002003.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q43371279
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.