The Bowman-Pirkle House is a historic two-story log house in Buford, Georgia.
It was built in 1818 for John Bowman, who served under General Andrew Jackson during the First Seminole War of 1816–1819. The house was built with the help of Cherokees as a token of the friendship between Bowman and Chief Major Ridge. According to Elizabeth Z. Macgregor of the Georgia State Commission, "this house is probably one of the earliest structures built and occupied by whites in this Indian territory." In 1890, it was acquired by Bowman's daughter Amanda and her husband, Noah Pirkle, who had served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War of 1861–1865. It was inherited by their descendants, who kept it in the family until 1969. In 1977s, Golden Pirkle gave it to the Hall County Historical Society. The house was returned to Bowman descendants around 2003.
Location
The Bowman-Pirkle House has moved several times.
Original
The original location on Friendship Road is now a parking lot in the vicinity of a BB&T bank, Zaxby's, and Holiday Inn Express.
Current
At present, the house is on the private property of John Bowman's great-grandson near the corner of Sardis Church Road & 2699 W. Rock Quarry Road in Buford (34°04'57.8"N 83°54'33.2"W). Driving directions
Previous locations
Initially the Hall County Historical Society recommended relocation into Gainesville on Queen City Parkway just off of Hwy. 360, Exit 5, however it was never moved to this location.
The house was moved to the Lake Lanier Natural History Museum near the Lake Lanier Islands Water Park in the 1980s. The house in its original location was vandalized extensively, therefore it was restored and relocated to the secure location. The original Bowman plantation was 7200 acres and had included the Lanier Islands, therefore the house would remain on its original land. It is thought construction of a new radio tower circa 2000 rendered the cabin unsafe, so its ownership was transferred back to the descendants of the Bowman family around 2003 where it was again transferred to a different location within the original 7200 acre property limits (2699 W. Rock Quarry Road, Buford GA).
National Register of Historic Places
The house has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since August 14, 1973: