Perkins House
Why it's listed
Perkins House is a two-story brick dwelling in the Newton area of Catawba County, North Carolina, built about 1790 and probably for John Perkins. Perkins was a Moravian hunter and guide in 1752 and later a justice of the peace and prominent citizen of the region. The house is laid in Flemish bond, has a three-bay front with a nine-panel door hung on rising strap hinges, and a wide double shoulder chimney with diamond patterns in the brickwork. Its Quaker plan places the main room to the east of the central entrance. The interior once held elaborate Adamesque mantels and cornices, probably installed about 1811 and related to woodwork at Rosedale in Charlotte. Those pieces were removed to the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts. Despite that loss, the house was considered important as a well-built example of early Piedmont brick architecture, and the remaining woodwork in the other rooms adds to its value.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the more important early dwellings in the Piedmont, an example of the sturdy two-story brick houses of early settlers. Its plain exterior contrasts with the ornate Adamesque interior woodwork, now in the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts. It is also tied to "Gentleman" John Perkins, a Moravian guide and prominent western North Carolina citizen.
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 74001336, listed October 1, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of Catawba off I-40, Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Catawba County |
| Listed | October 1, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001336 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century (specific date ca. 1790) |
| Architectural style | Federal; vernacular Adamesque interior woodwork; Quaker plan |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair and altered; the form lists it as a private residence, and the first-floor wainscot, mantel, cornice and stair were removed by MESDA. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 35.73333, -81.07295 (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 74001336.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18155861
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.