Iredell, James, House
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Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
This two-story frame house at 107 East Church Street in Edenton grew in two stages. The oldest section, with its gable end facing Church Street, dates to about 1776 and was apparently built by silversmith Joseph Whedbee. About 1816 a five-bay addition was attached perpendicular to its west side, enclosing a chimney and turning the house's axis from east-west to north-south. Two-tier porches, a large Flemish-bond brick chimney, and Georgian and Federal mantels mark the exterior and interior. Outbuildings include a kitchen, necessary house, carriage house, and a school moved by water from Bandon Plantation. James Iredell bought the property in 1778. Born in England in 1751, he became North Carolina's attorney general and was appointed to the United States Supreme Court by George Washington in 1790. His widow Hannah lived here until 1826. The house also hosted figures such as Joseph Hewes and Samuel Johnston. It is now a state-owned museum.
Significance in brief: The house was the residence of Judge James Iredell, later a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and a meeting place for prominent political figures of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Architecturally, it is described as an unusual but extremely well-executed combination of Georgian and Federal motifs.
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 70000449, listed February 26, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 107 E. Church St., Edenton |
|---|---|
| County | Chowan County |
| Listed | February 26, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000449 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Whedbee, silversmith, apparently built the east (oldest) section; builder of the c. 1816 addition not named. |
| Architectural style | Combination of Georgian and Federal motifs |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and unaltered on its original site; owned by the state of North Carolina and used as a museum (State Historic Site). |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Edenton Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.06071, -76.60661 (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 70000449.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6136575
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.