Underwood, John, House
Also known as: Rucker Residence
Why it's listed
This one-story frame house at 825 South Jackson Street in Hartwell was built around 1916-1917 for John and Dollie Underwood. It has a steep pyramidal roof with several projecting gables, a shed-roofed porch with turned posts wrapping two sides, and a central hall running the depth of the house. Four rooms each have a fireplace, and the interior retains tongue-and-groove paneling and simple mantels. Asphalt siding now covers the original weatherboarding, and some windows have been replaced. John Underwood worked as an overseer at the Hartwell Cotton Mills, a supervisory position that was highly unusual for a Black resident of a small town in the early twentieth century. He also owned a 13.4-acre tract, a large holding for a Black landowner at the time. The property is now 4.5 acres. It is recognized for its link to Underwood and as the most elaborate Victorian-eclectic residence built and owned by a Black resident in the Hartwell area.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to John Underwood, a Black overseer at the Hartwell Cotton Mills who also owned an unusually large tract of land for a Black resident of the era. It is also the most elaborate residence built and owned by a Black resident in the Hartwell survey area, and an example of Victorian-eclectic design.
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 86002062, listed September 11, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 825 S. Jackson St., Hartwell |
|---|---|
| County | Hart County |
| Listed | September 11, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002062 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Victorian-eclectic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a residence; described as in fair condition, with asphalt siding over the weatherboarding and some replaced windows. |
| Acreage | 4.5 |
| Coordinates | 34.34251, -82.93933 (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 86002062.
- 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.