Huffman, George, Farm
Also known as: Huffman--Herman Farm; Huffman--Punch--Herman Farm
Why it's listed
This 17.4-acre farm near Conover, in Catawba County, centers on a two-story, mortise-and-tenon frame house that Major George Huffman built around 1810. It is one of the oldest surviving houses in the county. The hall-and-parlor dwelling has stone chimneys, rear shed rooms, a front porch and a Federal style mantel and overmantel with sunburst medallions. Milton Herman altered the house in the early twentieth century, moving the stair, adding exterior siding and extending the eaves with brackets. The property also holds a contributing storage shed, several later outbuildings and the Huffman Family Cemetery, with about fifteen gravestones dated 1831 to 1873. Huffman was a farmer, wagonmaker, cooper and militia captain, and his son-in-law William Punch farmed the land later in the nineteenth century. The property was listed for its vernacular craftsmanship in the house and gravestones and for its place in the county's agricultural history. Most of the former farmland is now wooded and overgrown, but it still provides a setting for the historic buildings.
Significance in brief: The house and cemetery are significant under Criterion C for the fine vernacular craftsmanship of the house construction and the gravestone designs. The farm is also understood within the context of agriculture in Catawba County. It was established by George Huffman, a prosperous farmer, wagonmaker and cooper, and later farmed by his son-in-law William Punch.
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 90000861, listed June 21, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SR 1479, SE of jct. with Tate Blvd., Conover |
|---|---|
| County | Catawba County |
| Listed | June 21, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000861 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | ca. 1810-1891 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by George Huffman) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is described as intact and in good condition apart from early twentieth century alterations; the farmland lies fallow, mostly wooded and overgrown, and the grounds are kept mowed. |
| Acreage | 17 |
| Coordinates | 35.71271, -81.25394 (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
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 90000861.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18152494
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.