Moore, Robert Joseph, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1929 on the edge of Bynum, Chatham County, this two-story brick house was commissioned by Robert Joseph Moore, who ran a general store in the village for forty-eight years. Contractor Romy Cheek of Chapel Hill constructed it in a four-square form with a low pyramidal roof, a gabled front porch, a porte-cochere, and Colonial Revival mantels and stair inside. A frame garage and barn from about 1930 survive on the 8.7-acre property. Bynum grew around a textile mill, and its houses were mostly frame mill dwellings and vernacular homes. Moore's brick house, modeled on the fashionable architecture he had seen in Salisbury, introduced a new look to the community and showed his standing there. It has remained in the Moore family and has changed little apart from a 1950s rear addition and a remodeled kitchen. It is currently unoccupied and undergoing restoration.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion C for its local architectural importance in Bynum. Its brick four-square form and Colonial Revival interior detailing reflected urban trends, which was unusual in a mill village dominated by frame houses. It also signaled Moore's economic and social standing in the community.
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 98001142, listed September 3, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NC 1713, jct. with NC 1711, Bynum |
|---|---|
| County | Chatham County |
| Listed | September 3, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98001142 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929 |
| Architect / builder | Cheek, Romy - Contractor |
| Architectural style | Other: Four-Square House; Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is currently unoccupied and undergoing restoration; it has had few alterations, mainly a 1950s frame rear addition. |
| Acreage | 8.7 |
| Coordinates | 35.77875, -79.13308 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 98001142.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18154612
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.