Cox, Samuel, House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built as a two-story log house on a hilltop near Scottville in Ashe County, North Carolina, the Samuel Cox House was probably erected between 1850 and 1860 by Samuel Cox (1811-1868) on land deeded to him by his father, Joshua Cox, in 1832. Its two-room plan under a gable roof, with an exterior-end stone chimney, is described as the last and most sophisticated form of log construction for a domestic building in the region. The log core was weatherboarded around 1880, and Franklin Cox, Samuel's son, a local tanner, added a one-story frame ell around 1900 that gave the house its T-shaped plan. Later additions followed around 1927 and 1940. The house is regarded as representative of many log houses built in the New River Valley by second and third generation descendants of early settlers. The Cox family held the property until 1955, and the house is linked to the family's tannery operation, which the 1880 census records as producing 150 hides and 120 skins in a year.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is representative of many log houses built in the New River Valley by second and third generation descendants of early settlers, and that its two-story, two-room plan with exterior end stone chimney was the last and most sophisticated form of log construction for a domestic building. It is associated with the Cox family's early settlement of the valley and with Franklin Cox's tannery operation.
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 76001304, listed November 7, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Scottville off U.S. 221 on SR 1636, Scottville |
|---|---|
| County | Ashe County |
| Listed | November 7, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001304 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1600-1699 |
| Architectural style | Log |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remained in the Cox family until 1955 according to the document; the document does not state its current condition or use. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 36.47468, -81.31393 (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 76001304.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17509404
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.