Thompson, James Monroe, House
Also known as: Shady Rest
Why it's listed
Built in stages on Thompson Township land in southeast Alamance County, North Carolina, this double-pen log house began as a one-story single-pen log kitchen of about 1850. In 1872, James Monroe Thompson, a Civil War veteran, added a two-story log wing beside it and covered both units with unpainted weatherboards, which survive. The house is regarded as an intact example of a double-pen dwelling showing two construction stages, a building type common in the county's log architecture. Its interior keeps exposed chamfered beams, whitewashed logs, a large stone hearth and a loft in the kitchen, and a plank-sheathed parlor with beaded joists in the wing. The original farm of 123 acres has been reduced to a 2.4 acre tract, now surrounded by later houses. The house was listed for its architectural integrity and its value as a surviving farm dwelling from the late nineteenth century.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an intact example of a double-pen log dwelling reflecting two stages of construction, a building type discussed in a multiple property listing for log buildings in Alamance County. The present appearance dates from 1872, when the two-story wing was added and both units were covered with unpainted weatherboards. The house was once the centerpiece of Thompson's farm.
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 93001198, listed November 22, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NC 2158 E side, 0.1 mi. S of jct. with NC 2150, Saxapahaw |
|---|---|
| County | Alamance County |
| Listed | November 22, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93001198 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1850; 1872 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is still standing on a 2.4 acre tract and is maintained by the owner's family for use as a summer residence; the barn, smokehouse and corn crib no longer survive. |
| Acreage | 2.4 |
| Coordinates | 35.97174, -79.32173 (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 93001198.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17514145
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.