Propst House
Why it's listed
This story-and-a-half frame cottage in Hickory, North Carolina, is a Second Empire house topped by a concave mansard roof covered in patterned shingles and a two-and-a-half-story square tower. Carpenter and cabinetmaker J. Summie Propst built it shortly after buying the lot in October 1881. A porch with paired chamfered posts and a scroll-sawn balustrade wraps the front, and gable dormers carry sawn ornament. Inside, elaborate Victorian mantels with carved fans, incised patterns and spindlework are thought to have been embellished by Propst himself. The nomination describes it as one of Hickory's most architecturally interesting buildings and apparently the only example of its style in town. Propst was also active in Lutheran church life and served on the Board of Aldermen. After passing to the Deal family, the deteriorating house was bought in 1968 by the Hickory Landmarks Society, which moved it to city-owned Shuford Memorial Garden and began restoration.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a handsome Second Empire cottage with elaborate wooden ornament thought to be the work of its first owner, a carpenter. It is described as one of the most architecturally interesting buildings in Hickory and apparently the only example of its style. Its purchase and planned restoration by the Hickory Landmarks Society was also a locally important preservation effort.
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 73001312, listed April 24, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Shuford Memorial Garden, Hickory |
|---|---|
| County | Catawba County |
| Listed | April 24, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001312 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1881) |
| Architect / builder | J. Summie Propst, contractor-carpenter (builder) |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition; altered and moved; under restoration, directed by architect Philippe Gilissen and the Hickory Landmarks Society. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.73791, -81.37899 (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 73001312.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18157028
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.