Oates, John A., House
Why it's listed
Standing at the intersection of Green and Grove Streets in Fayetteville, this two-story, five-bay frame house is the last reminder of James Square, once a political center for Cumberland County. Its Classical Revival appearance dates from an extensive remodeling by John A. Oates around 1908-1909. A colossal pedimented portico with four fluted columns dominates the front, with dentil cornices, molded corner boards and oval beveled glass in the double entrance doors. Parts of the brick foundation and heavy beams survive from an earlier hotel and tavern associated with the Barge family. Oates was a lawyer, the first judge of the recorder's court, a state senator, a school board leader, a Baptist publisher and the author of The Story of Fayetteville and the Upper Cape Fear. The house was recognized for that association and as one of the few Classical Revival buildings in the city. It is also one of only three period houses remaining nearby.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to John A. Oates, a lawyer, judge, educator, state senator and local historian who remodeled it in the early twentieth century. It is also one of the few Classical Revival buildings in Fayetteville. It is one of only three period houses left near the former James Square courthouse area, and its foundation comes from an earlier tavern and hotel site.
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 83001866, listed July 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 406 St. James Sq., Fayetteville |
|---|---|
| County | Cumberland County |
| Listed | July 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001866 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1909 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered; the form says the owners are exploring adaptive re-use of the structure. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.05754, -78.87622 (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 83001866.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18217111
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.