Bower-Cox House
Why it's listed
Near Scottville in Ashe County, North Carolina, this two-story frame house with weatherboard siding grew in two stages. The south block, built about 1820 in the Federal style, was the work of George Bower, who served as county constable and as a state senator from 1812 to 1817 and ran a large farm. He also built a brick house in Jefferson. In 1852 he sold the property to Dr. Aras B. Cox, a local physician, court clerk and Confederate company commander. Cox helped found the Sutherland Methodist Church and wrote a history of the area's settlement. After the Civil War, about 1870-75, a rear wing was added, creating a T-shaped plan with a two-story porch on the west side. Porches were rebuilt about 1930. Features include a Flemish bond brick chimney, six-over-six and nine-over-nine sash windows, and interior mantels from different periods. The house is noted for its association with two prominent county figures and for its layered architecture.
Significance in brief: The house belonged to two of Ashe County's most prominent nineteenth-century citizens: George Bower, a state senator and businessman who built the original section, and Dr. Aras B. Cox, a physician and community leader who wrote a local history. The house also shows additions and alterations made by successive owners.
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 76001303, listed November 7, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Scottville on SR 1595, Scottville |
|---|---|
| County | Ashe County |
| Listed | November 7, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001303 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1820 |
| Architectural style | Federal period, with Federal and Greek Revival elements |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in good condition, with alterations. |
| Acreage | 8 |
| Coordinates | 36.44542, -81.36425 (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 76001303.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17511251
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.