{"nrhp_refnum":"89002137","name":"Webster Baptist Church","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"NC 116 and SR 1340","address_restricted":false,"city":"Webster","county":"Jackson County","state":"NC","lat":35.352002826000046,"lon":-83.22125422099998,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1989-12-21","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A frame Baptist church sanctuary completed in 1900 on a small hill on the south bank of the Tuckaseegee River, at Highway 116 and S.R. 1340 in Webster, Jackson County, North Carolina.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the church is a significant example of church architecture in sparsely populated Jackson County under Criterion C. Its engaged bell tower with an open belfry and basket arches is believed to be unique in the county. The interior furniture was hand-made by local cabinetmaker Joseph Warrenton Cowan and his son Lawrence.","narrative":"Completed in 1900, this weatherboard church sits on a hill above the Tuckaseegee River in Webster, facing the bridge on Highway 116. It has a steep gable roof, shingled gables and an engaged three-stage bell tower topped by an open belfry and a tapered, witch's-hat steeple. Inside, the original floor plan survives, with a shallow apse and a molded arch behind the communion rail. The oak pulpit, table and rail, with walnut burl panels, were designed and built by local cabinetmaker Joseph Warrenton Cowan and his son Lawrence, who also gave the land. The congregation began in 1854 and met in homes, schoolhouses and a shared building before building this church. Its belfry is considered one of the most elaborate in Jackson County and is believed unique there. A concrete block education building added between 1950 and 1960 blends with the sanctuary. The church was recognized for its architecture.","period_of_significance":"1900","architect_builder":"Cowan, Joseph Warrenton, builder; Cowan, Lawrence D., builder","architectural_style":"Other: Vernacular Victorian","criteria":["C"],"status_note":"Still in use as a religious building; the interior plan is unaltered and the building retains a high degree of integrity. A concrete block education building was added between 1950 and 1960.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:57:49.572617-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/32/7209/47720932/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_NC/89002137.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/89002137/de0ef6e557-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/89002137/de0ef6e557-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"RichardKenni","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Webster_Baptist_Church.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">RichardKenni</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Webster_Baptist_Church.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/47720932","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webster_Baptist_Church_(Webster,_North_Carolina)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7978895"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/north-carolina/jackson-county/webster-baptist-church-89002137/"}