Robbins, Samuel W., House
Also known as: Brewer House
Why it's listed
Built around 1851 for Samuel W. Robbins, this 1-1/2-story house on Rome Street in Cave Spring is a wood-frame residence with weatherboard siding on a brick foundation. It has a steep gable roof, three front dormers, two tall interior chimneys and a front porch. A one-story rear addition dates from about 1900, when the house appears to have been remodeled. Its design blends several traditions: the narrow plan follows the I-house type, the steep roof and chimneys reflect Gothic Revival, the porch brackets, pendants and posts are Italianate in feeling, and the stickwork in the dormer gables suggests Stick or Eastlake influence. This mixture reflects local building practice that drew on tradition, patternbooks and changing fashion. The house also matters for town planning. It sits just north of downtown and sharply separates the commercial center from the residential area along Rome Road, a pattern typical of small-town growth in the later nineteenth century. It remains a residence.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for architecture as a fine example of mid-19th-century eclectic residential design combining I-house, Gothic Revival, Italianate and Stick or Eastlake elements. It is also significant for community planning, since it marks the sharp divide between downtown to the south and the residential area along Rome Road to the north.
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 80001053, listed June 19, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Rome St., Cave Spring |
|---|---|
| County | Floyd County |
| Listed | June 19, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001053 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (original owner Samuel W. Robbins) |
| Architectural style | Eclectic mid-19th-century residential design with I-house, Gothic Revival, Italianate and Stick/Eastlake influences |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current use is residence; outbuildings include a garage and wellhouse. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.10840, -85.33599 (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 80001053.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134302638
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.