Gaither House
Why it's listed
This one-story Greek Revival house in Morganton, North Carolina, dates to about 1840 and is notable for its imposing Doric porch. Four large fluted columns support a pedimented entrance porch, and a wide frieze wraps around the frame building. The central doorway has sidelights and a transom with diamond-shaped lights, and heavy fluted pilasters divide the bays. Inside, a center hall plan holds mantels and doors in typical Greek Revival style. The house takes its name from Burgess Sidney Gaither (1807-1892), a Whig attorney who served as a delegate to the 1835 constitutional convention, speaker of the state senate, superintendent of the Charlotte Mint, and member of the Confederate Congresses. He most likely built the house in the late 1830s or 1840s, though many early county deeds were lost to fire. The house was apparently moved to its present site between 1933 and 1936. Its architecture and its link to Gaither's political career led to its listing.
Significance in brief: The house is described as an impressive, well-preserved example of small-scale Greek Revival architecture, notable for its Doric porch and interior detailing. It is also tied to Burgess S. Gaither, a Whig attorney and prominent local and state politician who served as speaker of the state senate, superintendent of the Charlotte Mint, and member of the Confederate Congresses.
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 76001310, listed April 23, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 102 N. Anderson St., Morganton |
|---|---|
| County | Burke County |
| Listed | April 23, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001310 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1840 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in good condition and altered; used as a private residence. The house was apparently moved to its present location between 1933 and 1936. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | West Union Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.74164, -81.69234 (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 76001310.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18150562
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.