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North Green Street-Bouchelle Street Historic District

Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina Listed Ref. 87001926 District

Also known as: See Also:Avery, Alphonso Calhoun, House

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Why it's listed

Northwest of downtown Morganton, this neighborhood of 40 buildings lines parts of North Green, Bouchelle and Patterson streets. Its houses date from about 1876 to about 1935. The earliest is the Avery-Summersette House, an Italianate-influenced brick residence built for attorney and jurist A. C. Avery. Around 1890 it was joined by large frame Queen Anne and Victorian houses, including the Perkins, Howard and Connelly houses. Later, lots were subdivided and filled with more modest Craftsman bungalows, cottages and Colonial Revival homes. Bouchelle Street also includes a small black neighborhood tied to the Avery family, whose members helped found the St. Stephen's mission of Grace Episcopal Church and sold the land for the present church, built about 1948. The district was recognized as an example of Morganton's pattern of early substantial houses followed by smaller infill housing, and for its collection of Victorian and bungalow architecture. Commercial pressure is greatest along North Green Street, a major traffic route near downtown.

Significance in brief: The district illustrates a recurring Morganton pattern in which a few large, substantial houses on big lots were followed by subdivision and smaller middle- and working-class infill in the 1920s and 30s. It holds notable Queen Anne, Italianate and vernacular Victorian houses plus Craftsman-inspired bungalows. It also includes a small neighborhood associated with the black Avery family, and black and white residents shared the area.

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 87001926, listed November 9, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).

Key facts

AddressN. Green, Bouchelle, & Patterson Sts., Morganton
CountyBurke County
ListedNovember 9, 1987
Reference number87001926
Resource typeDistrict
Period of significanceca. 1876-ca. 1935
Architect / builderUnknown
Architectural styleVictorian (Queen Anne, Italianate, vernacular Victorian), Craftsman bungalow, Colonial Revival and eclectic cottages
Criteria
  • A — associated with events that made a significant contribution to history
  • C — distinctive architecture, design or construction
Areas of significanceCommunity Planning and Development, Architecture
Level of significanceLocal
Status (as stated in the nomination)Bouchelle and Patterson streets are described as relatively stable, with occupied, mostly well-maintained residences, and some Patterson houses adapted to commercial use. North Green Street faces commercial development pressure. The Avery-Summersette House has been restored as a private residence, and the Waightstill Avery House site is a vacant lot.
Acreage21
Coordinates35.74890, -81.69119 (NPS GIS)

What listing means for this property

This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.

Sources and further reading

Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.