Graves House
Why it's listed
Set beside U.S. 158 on the outskirts of Yanceyville, this frame house follows a Georgian tripartite plan: a gable-front center section flanked by two narrow wings. It has beaded weatherboards, a molded box cornice with modillions, brick chimneys with stepped shoulders, and nine-over-nine sash windows. Inside, the cross-hall plan survives, along with raised-panel overmantels, an original six-panel stair door and an unusual balustrade with diagonally set balusters. The house was probably built in the late 1780s or early 1790s for Solomon Graves, an early Caswell County leader who served as tax collector, helped fund the first county jail and sat in the House of Commons. It is the only survivor of three tripartite houses said to have stood in the county and the only remaining antebellum house built for the Graves family. After years as a tenant house it fell into ruinous condition, and descendants of the family restored it in the early 1970s.
Significance in brief: It is the only survivor of three tripartite houses said once to have existed in Caswell County, and is architecturally important for its form, plan, paneled overmantels and stairwell. It is among the oldest dwellings in the county and the only remaining antebellum house built for the Graves family. It is described as an example of the most substantial class of eighteenth century domestic architecture in 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 74001335, listed November 20, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | U.S. 158 at NC 86, Yanceyville |
|---|---|
| County | Caswell County |
| Listed | November 20, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001335 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1780-1800 |
| Architectural style | Georgian tripartite house |
| Areas of significance | Education, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recently restored after a long period of tenant occupancy and dilapidation; listed as an occupied private residence in good condition, altered, on its original site. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 36.40408, -79.33186 (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 74001335.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18151028
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.