Mace, Ulysses S., House
Why it's listed
At 518 Broad Street in New Bern stands a two-story frame house built around 1884-1885 for Ulysses S. Mace, a druggist who bought the lot in March 1884. Deeds from 1885 refer to a new house built by Mace alongside an older Pearce house on the property. The house is a late Italianate design with a flat roof, a bracketed cornice with sawn scroll brackets, and demi-hexagonal pavilions on the front and side. Its complex, ornate form differs from the restrained rectangular houses typical of New Bern. Inside, a curved freestanding stair rises from the center hall, and the first floor has marble mantels, plaster medallions, segmental arches, and shell-carved cupboards in the dining room. The Mace estate rented the house until 1920, when it was sold and later passed to the Wadsworth family. Changes since then were minor: a Georgian Revival library mantel and a glassed-in porch. The nomination called it stylistically unique in the city.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a late Italianate building with heavy sawn wood ornament and projecting demi-hexagonal bays, standing stylistically alone in New Bern. Its original trim is sound, and it is considered one of the most picturesque late nineteenth century houses in the city. The interior is also notable for its marble mantels, plaster ceiling ornament, and connecting arches with shell cupboards.
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 73001324, listed June 4, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 518 Broad St., New Bern |
|---|---|
| County | Craven County |
| Listed | June 4, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001324 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1885) |
| Architect / builder | Built by Ulysses S. Mace (attribution based on deeds and local tradition) |
| Architectural style | Late Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Private residence, occupied at the time of nomination; described as in good condition though in need of paint. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 35.10878, -77.04247 (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 73001324.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18153922
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.