Jerkins, Thomas, House
Why it's listed
Built about 1849 for Captain Thomas Jerkins, a New Bern ship master who prospered through trade and business connections, this two-story frame house at 305 Johnson Street is a restrained local version of the Italianate style. It follows the side-hall plan traditional in New Bern and has bracketed eaves, Tuscan-style corner pilasters, a stuccoed brick basement and a separate kitchen building that still matches an 1849 insurance policy description. Inside, the principal rooms retain plaster ceiling medallions, marble mantels, sliding paneled doors and gas-era chandeliers. The house may stand on the foundations of an earlier Jerkins dwelling. During the Civil War it was heavily used by Union troops from Massachusetts, New Jersey and Vermont between 1862 and 1865. After the war it passed to Jerkins relatives and later owners. It was listed as an excellent example of a shipmaster's awareness of prevailing styles and of local craftsmen's adaptation of them.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as an excellent example of a restrained, New Bern adaptation of the Italianate style using the traditional side-hall plan. It shows both the builder's awareness of current architectural fashion and local craftsmen's skill in adapting it. The house also served Union forces quartered in New Bern from 1862 to 1865.
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 72000945, listed October 18, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 305 Johnson St., New Bern |
|---|---|
| County | Craven County |
| Listed | October 18, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000945 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Jerkins (builder/owner); local craftsmen |
| Architectural style | Italianate (New Bern adaptation, side-hall plan) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked excellent; altered; original site; occupied private residence. The front porch floor was recently removed, leaving a landing and stair. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 35.11055, -77.03878 (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 72000945.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18152669
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.