Patterson-Turner Homeplace
The pin is a point inside the NPS boundary polygon, not a surveyed location.
Why it's listed
Just east of Hartwell in Hart County, Georgia, this two-story frame house was built in 1835 for cotton planter James Patterson. It sits on an 11.9-acre remnant of a plantation that once covered over 1,000 acres. A two-story portico with four fluted columns shades the central entrance, and the interior follows a central hall with four rooms on each floor. Eight original mantels, original doors with brass hardware, and bull's eye window molding survive. The house is held up as an excellent local example of Early Classical Revival design, the work of an unknown but capable local builder. Patterson's niece and her husband, Dr. Joel L. Turner, the county's only physician, later inherited it, and their son, Methodist minister Jefferson Davis Turner, lived there as well. The Turner family kept the house until 1986. The kitchen was joined to the main house around 1885. A c. 1905 barn also contributes to the property.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a near-perfect example of the Early Classical Revival style reflecting Jeffersonian ideals in Georgia. It keeps nearly all its original features, including the central-hall four-room plan, eight original mantels, bull's eye molding and a two-story fluted-column portico. It also shows the work of a skilled local carpenter-builder who adapted national trends to a local setting.
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 90001126, listed July 26, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Smith--McGee Bridge Rd., Hartwell |
|---|---|
| County | Hart County |
| Listed | July 26, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001126 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1835; 1885 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling with an agricultural outbuilding; the 1885 kitchen attachment and later changes such as vinyl siding (1986) and truncated chimneys are noted. |
| Acreage | 11.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.35423, -82.90735 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 90001126.
- 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.