Miller-Cansler House
Also known as: Miller,Adam,Jr.,House
Why it's listed
Located northwest of Maiden in south Catawba County, this two-story frame farmhouse dates to about 1820 and is regarded as one of the finest Federal style farmhouses left in the county. It has a three-bay front, shed-roofed porches with turned balusters, molded eaves, a double-shoulder brick chimney laid in Flemish bond, and a six-panel front door under a four-light transom. Inside, five Federal mantels survive, along with six-panel doors, enclosed stairs with sponge-painted risers, and two doors with painted mahogany graining. The house may have been built by Michael Rudisill Jr. or his father, and in 1836 it passed to Adam Miller Jr., a Lutheran minister who farmed grain and livestock there. His descendants, later named Cansler, kept it until 1977 and shifted the farm toward dairying. A circa 1941 rear ell, a well-shed/dairy and a modern garage complete the property, which is recognized for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the finest surviving Federal style farmhouses in Catawba County, with well-preserved exterior and interior detail including five Federal mantels and painted mahogany graining on two doors. It also has ties to the Rudisill family and to Adam Miller Jr., a locally prominent Lutheran minister. Its agricultural significance was lost in 1977 when the house tract was separated from the farm.
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 90000741, listed May 10, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N side of SR 2007, 0.5 mi. E of jct. with SR 1005, Maiden |
|---|---|
| County | Catawba County |
| Listed | May 10, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000741 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1820 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the original portion is well preserved, with a circa 1941 rear ell added and some foundation materials replaced. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 35.59653, -81.25381 (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 90000741.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18154422
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.