Grove, The
Also known as: Blount House
Why it's listed
Built probably about 1808 on a small hill north of the Tarboro Town Common, The Grove is a two-story Federal-style frame house set on a raised basement. Its five-bay north and south facades have nine-over-nine sash windows and central doorways with four-light transoms. A gable roof rests on a modillion cornice, with a fanlight in each gable between brick double-shouldered chimneys laid in Flemish bond. Inside, an off-center transverse hall holds a three-flight stair. A shed porch added around the house is the only significant exterior alteration. Thomas Blount, a politician who sat in the Hillsborough Convention of 1788 and served in Congress, built the house on land bought in 1795. Later residents included Louis D. Wilson, who led Edgecombe volunteers in the Mexican War, and John L. Bridgers, a Confederate congressman and general. A school operated here in the 1890s, and the house now serves as school system offices. It is valued for its associations with prominent figures and its ambitious vernacular Federal design.
Significance in brief: The house is noted as the home of several prominent state and national political and military figures, including Thomas Blount, Louis D. Wilson and John L. Bridgers. The Blount family was among North Carolina's most important early families. Architecturally it is described as a fine example of ambitious vernacular design in the Federal style.
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 71000583, listed February 18, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 130 Bridgers St., Tarboro |
|---|---|
| County | Edgecombe County |
| Listed | February 18, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000583 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date ca. 1808) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Military, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered only by a shed porch added around the building; used for administrative offices of the city school system and owned by the Town of Tarboro. |
| Acreage | 9.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.90293, -77.53693 (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 71000583.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19462106
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.