Moore, John Covington, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1838, shortly after the removal of the Cherokee from the region, this log house in the Tusquitee area of Clay County stands on a small rise facing south across the Tusquitee Creek valley. It is a story-and-loft structure on fieldstone piers with a center-hall plan, a semi-engaged front porch and rear shed rooms added around 1930. The log walls were weatherboarded, with records dating a covering to 1903. A west chimney with a stuccoed stone base painted to imitate coursed ashlar and a brick shaft is a notable feature. Inside, the hall is sheathed in vertical poplar boards, and the parlor has a post-and-lintel mantel with Federal-style accents. John Covington Moore, who homesteaded among the Cherokee around 1833, farmed about 300 acres, held interests in gold mines and served as one of three commissioners who laid off Clay County in 1861. The house survives relatively intact and is valued for its settlement history and vernacular detailing.
Significance in brief: The house is one of the few surviving houses associated with the exploration and settlement of the North Carolina mountains. It was the home of John C. Moore, generally recognized as Clay County's first white settler and one of three commissioners who laid off the county in 1861. It is also a rare, relatively unaltered example of mid-nineteenth century western North Carolina vernacular architecture.
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 83001840, listed July 21, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SR 1307, Tusquitee |
|---|---|
| County | Clay County |
| Listed | July 21, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001840 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Vernacular log house (mid-nineteenth century western North Carolina vernacular) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence; the house has no indoor plumbing and has been altered by rear shed rooms, a replaced east chimney and later weatherboarding. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 35.08575, -83.77184 (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 83001840.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17022663
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.