Tyro Tavern
Also known as: Thompson House; Davis House; Dv-15
Why it's listed
Rising above the crossroads village of Tyro in Davidson County, North Carolina, this brick building dates to about 1840. It has two stories, five bays across the front and a gable roof with paired chimneys at each end. Flemish bond brickwork, a deeply corbeled cornice and Greek Revival interior woodwork mark it as a high-quality antebellum house. Inside, a wall of five hinged doors could fold open to join two first-floor rooms, and four small rooms line the upstairs hall, features that indicate it was built as a tavern. It was apparently the home of Joseph H. Thompson, whose Tyro Iron Works became the county's largest maker of farm implements in the second half of the nineteenth century. The foundry and store gave the village its start, and this house is the only structure left from that enterprise. It is recognized as one of the largest and finest antebellum houses in the county.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the finest example of Greek Revival domestic architecture in Davidson County. Its folding five-door partition wall and four small upstairs rooms point to its original use as a tavern. It is also the only surviving structure linked to Joseph H. Thompson, founder of the Tyro Iron Works, the county's first known maker of agricultural equipment.
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 84002154, listed August 16, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NC 150, Tyro |
|---|---|
| County | Davidson County |
| Listed | August 16, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002154 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and occupied as a private residence; the two-story front porch was removed in the mid-twentieth century. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.80649, -80.37665 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 84002154.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18355549
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.