Smith, Jim, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1860, this two-story farmhouse near Lyons was home to James Henry (Jim) Smith, a prosperous farmer who owned thousands of acres, raised sheep and other livestock, and ran a sawmill and gristmill. The wood-framed house has a full-length two-story porch with six square posts, a five-bay front, a central hall plan on each floor, and a heavy timber frame with hand-hewn, pegged sills. Its entrances have transoms and sidelights, and original mantels, heart-pine floors and four-paneled doors survive. Empty since about 1971, the house was moved roughly 1.5 miles in 1984 to a similar setting on former Smith land to avoid demolition, then rehabilitated with a compatible one-story rear wing. It was listed for architecture as a rare, unusually large example of a vernacular antebellum Greek Revival farmhouse in south Georgia, with attention to the care taken to preserve its integrity after the move.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rare and impressive example of a rural antebellum Greek Revival house in south Georgia, unusually large for the area and period. It shows Greek Revival influence in its two-story porch, transom and sidelight entrances, and symmetrical facade and plan. It also retains fine craftsmanship such as original mantels, heart-pine flooring and hand-hewn sills.
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 89001213, listed August 31, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Rt. 3/Toombs County Rd. 18, Lyons |
|---|---|
| County | Toombs County |
| Listed | August 31, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001213 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1860 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house was moved in 1984 and rehabilitated with a new rear addition, and is used as a single dwelling. It had stood vacant from about 1971 until its move and rehabilitation. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 32.01758, -82.25245 (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 89001213.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q29093762
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.