Washburn Historic District
Why it's listed
Washburn Historic District is a crossroads community of about sixty-three acres in east central Rutherford County, near Bostic, built around a general store that has been run by one family since the 1880s. Its centerpiece is the Edgar Nollie Washburn House, a brick Classical Revival residence begun in 1914 and finished in 1915, with a two-story Tuscan portico, slate hipped roof and a center-hall plan with elaborate mantels and oak woodwork. The district also contains a 1925 brick store still used for general merchandise, a funeral business begun in 1928, a Colonial Revival house from 1929, and four frame rental houses built in the 1940s for families and returning veterans. Its significance lies in the architecture of the main house, which is closely comparable to the James Dexter Ledbetter House in Forest City, and in the continuous family mercantile operation that served the farming community for generations.
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 | 1914-1950 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Classical Revival; Colonial Revival; Period Cottage |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Acreage | 63 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Washburn Historic District (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.