Waterloo
Also known as: Grady House
Why it's listed
Waterloo is a two-story frame house in Duplin County, North Carolina, set in a curve of the old Great Road from Sarecta to Whitehall. The main block is three bays wide and two deep, with a one-story enclosed shed on three sides, a front shed porch, a steep tin gable roof and a brick end chimney. Family tradition says Henry Grady built it between 1806 and 1831, and he deeded the tract to his daughter Eliza Anne in 1831. Inside, beaded sheathing, paneled dados and mantels survive almost unaltered. The parlor and dining room carry hand-painted decoration from the mid-nineteenth century, including marbleizing, graining, stippling, flower friezes and grapevines. Eliza Anne Grady is believed to have painted them, and the dining room appears unfinished. The house was listed for its architecture, for this rare surviving folk art, and for its link to the Grady family, a prominent Duplin County family.
Significance in brief: The house is an example of early Federal domestic architecture in southeastern North Carolina. Its hand-painted parlor and dining room decoration from the mid-nineteenth century is a rare surviving example of antebellum interior wall painting in the state. It was also the home of Henry Grady, of a notable Duplin County family, and his daughter Eliza Anne is believed to have painted the decoration.
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 75001254, listed January 8, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2 mi. S of Albertson on NC 111, Albertson |
|---|---|
| County | Duplin County |
| Listed | January 8, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001254 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Henry Grady (builder, by family tradition); interior decoration attributed to Eliza Anne Grady |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Federal |
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as altered, with the original interior fabric largely intact. It is a private residence used as a summer home, and the painted decoration was recently cleaned and is in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 35.08698, -77.81511 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 75001254.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18394608
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.