Doughton, Robert L., House
Why it's listed
Set at the foot of a wooded hill beside Cranberry Creek near Laurel Springs, this two-story frame farmhouse is a plain, country interpretation of the late Queen Anne style. It has a steeply pitched hip roof, gabled projections on all four sides, bracketed eaves, a front porch and a center-hall interior with a notable arched stair. Local tradition says Robert L. Doughton built it in 1899 on land he had assembled over the preceding years. Doughton (1863-1954) served on the State Board of Agriculture and in the State Senate before winning election to Congress in 1911. He remained there until 1953 and chaired the House Ways and Means Committee from 1933 to 1945, helping shape tax policy and New Deal legislation. His daughter lived in the house until about 1968. It was then vandalized, sold at auction in 1971, and left unoccupied, yet it remains structurally sound and is regarded as a community landmark to a locally rooted politician of national standing.
Significance in brief: The house is associated with Robert L. Doughton (1863-1954), who served 42 consecutive years in Congress and chaired the House Ways and Means Committee from 1933 to 1945. It is also a representative turn-of-the-century farmhouse and one of the more prominent houses built in this farming region of Alleghany County.
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 79001656, listed August 13, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NC 18, Laurel Springs |
|---|---|
| County | Alleghany County |
| Listed | August 13, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001656 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1898 |
| Architectural style | Late Queen Anne (simplified, country version) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unoccupied since about 1968 and damaged by vandals in 1971, but described as structurally sound. |
| Acreage | 3.5 |
| Coordinates | 36.41061, -81.26504 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 79001656.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17508616
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.