Cullins-Baker House
Why it's listed
Set at the end of a pecan-lined lane in Chowan County, this two-story farmhouse was built in the late 1830s for Jacob Cullins, a prosperous farmer. Its form is a traditional vernacular one, expanded with a two-story rear ell and a once-sophisticated double-tier pedimented portico, now known only from ghost marks on the facade. Inside, a center-hall plan, grained and marblized woodwork, and Federal mantels with reeded and star-motif detail reflect late Federal and Greek Revival taste. The Cullins family farm once covered about 300 acres and later passed to James L. Baker in 1863, remaining with the Baker family until 1978. A kitchen/dining building, an early twentieth century shed and a family cemetery survive nearby. The house is valued as a reminder of the county's agrarian middle class, who farmed on a more modest scale than the large plantations or the mercantile mansions of Edenton.
Significance in brief: The house was the seat of a successful antebellum farm and represents Chowan County's growing planter middle class in the first half of the nineteenth century. It embodies a vernacular two-story form with a rear ell and late Federal/Greek Revival detailing typical of the Albemarle region. The nomination also notes it may yield information about mid-nineteenth century life in the county.
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 82003442, listed April 29, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NC 32, Smalls Crossroads |
|---|---|
| County | Chowan County |
| Listed | April 29, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003442 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Transitional Federal/Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Under renovation at the time of nomination; the form describes the house as altered, with an early twentieth century front porch replacement and gable addition. |
| Acreage | 60 |
| Coordinates | 36.29487, -76.64995 (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 82003442.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18387888
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.