Clark, John Hector, House
Why it's listed
This one-story board-and-batten Coastal Cottage in Clarkton, Bladen County, was built about 1865 for John Hector Clark. A broad gable roof shelters a full-width engaged porch with square Doric posts, and brick chimneys rise at each gable end. Inside, a center-hall plan, five-foot Greek Revival mantels and wide pine floors survive. Clark, a merchant, farmer and turpentine distiller, did business in naval stores with his brother-in-law John D. Currie and helped found Clarkton Academy in 1874. The town took his name that same year. The house is the only remaining structure tied to his working life, and few board-and-batten Coastal Cottages are known in the state. It was moved about 100 to 125 feet when NC 211 was built in the late 1920s, then realigned and set on a brick foundation in 1932 by his granddaughter. It remained in the Clark family and still sits on a lawn shaded by oaks and elms, with fields to the south.
Significance in brief: It is a distinctive intact example of the Coastal Cottage form and one of a small number of known examples in the state covered in board and batten. It was also the home of John Hector Clark (1821-1898), a merchant, farmer and turpentine distiller for whom Clarkton was named in 1874. His work in naval stores and agriculture is tied to the town's growth into a regional trading center.
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 87000039, listed May 20, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SE corner jct. of S. Grove and E. Green Sts., Clarkton |
|---|---|
| County | Bladen County |
| Listed | May 20, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000039 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Coastal Cottage with Greek Revival detailing |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; moved short distances in the late 1920s and in 1932 and set on a brick foundation. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.48891, -78.65402 (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 87000039.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17986520
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.