Sharpe-Gentry Farm
Why it's listed
Set on N.C. Highway 10 in southwest Catawba County near Propst Crossroads, the Sharpe-Gentry Farm centers on a one-and-one-half story hip-roofed frame house built circa 1903 for John O. Sharpe, a small farmer and lumberman. Its wrap-around veranda, with turned posts and balusters, is the most decorative feature of an otherwise plain Queen Anne style cottage. The farmstead includes a frame barn, granary, garage, engine house and sheds, most of which date from the house's early years. John W. and Lucille Gentry bought the farm in 1919 for $5,000 and moved into the house in 1923. Lucille Gentry ran a small dairy here and kept the buildings in use while her husband worked as a crane operator. The property is regarded as one of the most intact early twentieth-century farmsteads in the county, with its house, outbuildings and surrounding fields still reflecting the agricultural life of the period.
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) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | ca. 1903-1939 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Acreage | 28 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Sharpe-Gentry Farm (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.