Hardman, Governor L. G., House
Why it's listed
This two-story residence at 208 Elm Street in Commerce, Georgia, combines a Mediterranean design with Craftsman detailing. Built between about 1919 and 1921 for Dr. L. G. Hardman, it has buff-colored brick walls, limestone trim, a hipped roof of green glazed tile, a porte cochere topped by a deck, and a rear garage apartment. Inside are a large stone living room fireplace, beveled glass, a sun room, a sleeping porch, and a basement with a storm cellar and a greenhouse. Architect LeRoy Collier Hart of Athens designed it, and it is one of his few surviving works. Hardman, a physician, banker, and legislator, served as Georgia governor from 1927 to 1931 and returned here whenever he could. His term saw the Allen Commission on state reorganization, the first state income tax law, and the first permanent home for the state archives. The house stands on about five acres near downtown Commerce.
Significance in brief: It is significant for its association with L. G. Hardman, a physician who served as Georgia governor from 1927 to 1931 and lived here during both terms. It is also a fine Georgia example of a Mediterranean-style house, designed by trained architect LeRoy Collier Hart and one of few surviving works of his.
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 88000749, listed June 16, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 208 Elm St., Commerce |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Listed | June 16, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000749 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927-1931 |
| Architect / builder | Hart, Leroy C., architect |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals / Other: Mediterranean Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single dwelling and being rehabilitated by its owners after a long period of vacancy and neglect before 1986. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 34.20133, -83.45609 (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 88000749.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5589589
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.