Neill-Turner-Lester House
Also known as: Five Oaks; Neill--Lester House
Why it's listed
Set at the end of a long, winding lane near Sherrills Ford, this two-story frame farmhouse began around 1820 as a Federal-style dwelling built by early settler William Neill. It later passed to Fielding Turner, who bought the farm in 1850, and then to his daughter Susan, who married Charles Henry Lester in 1877. Lester, regarded as Catawba County's first architect, remodelled the house around 1889. He added rear rooms, a full-length classical porch and a second-story office over its center bay, giving the exterior an Italianate character. He kept most of the original Federal interior, including paneled wainscot, dentiled and molded cornices, and three elaborate tripartite mantels, some with grained and stippled finishes. The house was listed for its association with Lester, who lived and worked there throughout his career, and for its Federal interior and late nineteenth-century remodelling. It is one of only three surviving dwellings known to have been designed or remodelled by him.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion B as the residence and office of Charles Henry Lester, regarded as Catawba County's first architect, from about 1877 through his career, which ended about 1927. It is significant under Criterion C as an example of Federal architecture with notable interior detailing, and for Lester's Italianate-inspired remodelling around 1889. It is one of only three surviving dwellings known to have been designed or remodelled by Lester.
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 90000742, 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 1836, 0.25 mi. NE of jct. with SR 1837, Sherrills Ford |
|---|---|
| County | Catawba County |
| Listed | May 10, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000742 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1820; ca. 1877-ca. 1927 |
| Architect / builder | Lester, Charles Henry |
| Architectural style | Federal; Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Single dwelling in current use; a modern mobile home on the lot is noncontributing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.64986, -80.96301 (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 90000742.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18154945
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.