Taylor, Isaac, House
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
Built in the 1790s at 228 Craven Street in New Bern, this brick town house was home to Isaac Taylor, a Scottish-born merchant, ship owner and planter. Taylor bought the lot in 1792, and the house was probably finished by 1796. It rises three stories plus attic over a full basement, with Flemish bond brickwork, a gable roof and a Tuscan-pilastered entrance with a pediment. Inside, each floor has two rooms opening onto a side hall, and the woodwork shows the Adamesque style, with a transverse hall arch, applied molding and carved mantels. The second-floor drawing room is especially elaborate. The nomination describes it as the earliest known Federal-style brick house in New Bern and the only three-story example among the city's side-hall-plan brick dwellings. During the Civil War, Union forces used it as regimental headquarters, and the facade has changed little since 1862 photographs. The attribution to John Hawks is considered highly unlikely.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the earliest known brick house in the Federal style in New Bern and the only three-story house among the city's fine Federal side-hall-plan brick dwellings. It is further distinguished by its handsome Federal interiors with Adamesque woodwork. It also had notable Civil War use as Union regimental headquarters.
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 72000953, listed December 27, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 228 Craven St., New Bern |
|---|---|
| County | Craven County |
| Listed | December 27, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000953 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal (Adamesque interiors) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and used as a private residence; the form notes it is the only building in its immediate area that has kept its domestic use. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 35.10543, -77.03800 (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 72000953.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18158647
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.