Suttle, Joseph, House
Also known as: Twin Chimneys
Why it's listed
Known locally as Twin Chimneys, this two-story farmhouse sits on 128 acres southwest of Shelby in Cleveland County. Built sometime between 1820 and 1847, probably for English-born planter Minor Smith, it is covered in plain weatherboards and has massive brick chimneys flanking the north gable. Federal-style interior woodwork survives, and a full-width shed porch carries late-nineteenth century sawnwork ornament. A kitchen building, barn, smokehouse, and family cemetery remain on the property. In 1854 Joseph Suttle bought the farm. He was a young Baptist minister and planter, a cofounder of the Kings Mountain Association, and an advocate of Missionary Baptism and prohibition. He died in 1861, and the house later passed through several owners before a great-grandson acquired it in 1943. The house is regarded as one of the county's best known antebellum residences, reflecting planter prosperity in the western Piedmont and the region's vernacular Federal building tradition.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the best known antebellum residences surviving in Cleveland County. It reflects the growing prosperity of the western Piedmont planter class and is tied to Joseph Suttle, a prominent Baptist minister and planter. It also represents a vernacular reading of the Federal style with notable late-nineteenth century porch ornament, and it keeps its rural setting and outbuildings.
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 80002814, listed July 17, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Shelby, Shelby |
|---|---|
| County | Cleveland County |
| Listed | July 17, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002814 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1820-1842 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Federal (vernacular), with vestigial Georgian, Greek Revival and later Gothic details |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence, restored and used as a summer residence; condition marked good and altered, original site. |
| Acreage | 128 |
| Coordinates | 35.26882, -81.58428 (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 80002814.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18158589
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.