Lentz, John A., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1890 at 321 Ninth Street NW in Hickory, this two-story frame house sits on a shaded lot high above the street. Its most striking feature is a full-length, two-level front porch with Tuscan Doric columns and turned balusters. Inside, the original stair with its heavy carved newel survives, though most other interiors were remodelled in the 1960s and 1970s, and a one-story wing was added on the north side. A brick outbuilding stands behind the house. The house was built by John Albert Lentz (1860-1925), an orphan who became one of Hickory's leading businessmen. He founded the Hickory Novelty Company, later ran a lumber company, served as mayor in 1911 and 1912, and as a loan association director helped about 500 residents build homes, especially in the black community. A later owner, Jake Schoonderwoerd, a Holland-born packaging executive and civic leader, adds a parallel story of local enterprise.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to John A. Lentz, a Hickory manufacturer, lumberman, mayor and loan association director who helped many residents, especially in the black community, to own homes. It is also associated with the residential and industrial development of Hickory. Later owner Jake Schoonderwoerd, a Holland-born businessman and civic leader, is cited for a career resembling Lentz's.
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 85000588, listed March 15, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 321 9th St. NW, Hickory |
|---|---|
| County | Catawba County |
| Listed | March 15, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000588 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by John Albert Lentz) |
| Architectural style | Late Classical Revival influence |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in good condition, and used as a private residence; interior heavily remodelled in the 1960s and 1970s. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.73663, -81.35235 (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 85000588.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18153550
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.