Pure Oil Service Station
Also known as: White's Service Station & Muffler Shop
Why it's listed
Built around 1932 at the corner of Howell and Jackson Streets in Hartwell, Georgia, this brick service station follows a standardized design used by the Pure Oil Company and its affiliates. It was constructed by the Wofford Oil Company, known locally as Woco Pep, on land where the Craft house had stood; that house was moved to the rear of the lot. Steeply pitched gable roofs cover the office, the service bays and the portico over the fuel island, which rests on bracketed wooden posts and brick piers. Inside, the original pressed tin ceiling, concrete floors and Craftsman-inspired door surrounds survive. The design borrowed from English Tudor residential architecture so that a commercial building would fit into neighborhood settings. The station is significant for its architecture and for its link to the growth of automobile use in the 1920s and 1930s. It is the only historic building in Hartwell tied directly to the automobile. It remains in operation, with a service bay and supply room added in the 1970s.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an example of standardized national service station design applied in a small community, drawing on English Tudor-style residential forms so it would blend into neighborhoods. It also marks the arrival of widespread automobile use in the 1920s and 1930s, and is the only historic building in Hartwell directly associated with the automobile.
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 86002047, listed September 11, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Howell St. at Jackson St., Hartwell |
|---|---|
| County | Hart County |
| Listed | September 11, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002047 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Pure Oil Company design; built by Wofford Oil Company (Woco Pep) |
| Architectural style | Pure Oil standardized design derived from English Tudor style, with Craftsman-inspired interior details |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still operating as a service station and muffler shop; additions from the 1970s include a service bay and supply room. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Hartwell Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 34.35296, -82.93392 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 86002047.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q55757529
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.