Mount Prospect
Also known as: Exum Lewis,Jr.,House
Why it's listed
Mount Prospect is a two-story frame plantation house of late Georgian style in the countryside near Leggett, Edgecombe County. Its five-bay main block rests on a brick cellar and follows a "Quaker" plan, with one large room on one side and two smaller rooms on the other, each heated by corner fireplaces. Inside, flat-paneled wainscot and a distinctive fluted mantel mark the finish. Later additions at the rear are plain. The house sits among surviving outbuildings, including an office, an unusually large smokehouse, a brick dairy and a barn, along with a family graveyard, a boxwood garden and an orchard. Exum Lewis, Jr., lived here and assembled a plantation of about 905 acres. He was a storekeeper, mill-owner, postmaster and chairman of the county court, and in 1815 he hosted the Methodist pioneer Francis Asbury. The house was probably built by the Williams family or Lewis between 1772 and 1796.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the main block is a handsome, essentially unaltered Georgian house with a 'Quaker' plan and fine traditional finish. It was the home of Exum Lewis, Jr., an influential Edgecombe County postmaster, storekeeper, mill-owner and planter, who hosted Methodist pioneer Francis Asbury in 1815. Surviving outbuildings, a family cemetery, a boxwood garden and an orchard add to its setting.
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 74001347, listed November 20, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of SR 1409 and SR 1428, Leggett |
|---|---|
| County | Edgecombe County |
| Listed | November 20, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001347 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century (late 18th century) |
| Architectural style | Late Georgian (vernacular Georgian) |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition though somewhat neglected in recent years; unoccupied at the time of nomination and used as a tenant house; private residence category. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 36.00768, -77.64118 (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 74001347.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18711619
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.