Nobles, Dr. A. B., House and McKendree Church
Also known as: Chosumneda
Why it's listed
Northwest of Mercer in Edgecombe County, a brick Gothic Revival cottage anchors a large working farm. Built shortly after the Civil War for Dr. Allen B. Nobles, a physician, Methodist layman and enterprising farmer, it draws on the patternbooks of Calvert Vaux and A. J. Downing. Steep gables, dormers, ogee-arched windows and curving sawn trim give it a picturesque look. Few brick examples of the style survive in rural North Carolina, and a similar house stands in Tarboro. The builder may have been Thomas Coats, though this is not certain. Nobles applied improved farming methods, producing 65 bales of cotton on 52 acres in 1882. Across the road, the small frame McKendree Church was built about 1875 on land he donated. It was named for Bishop McKendree, who reportedly stayed in a room kept for him in the house. The church has been little altered and is still used. The nominated property covers about 391 acres of farmland.
Significance in brief: The house is a well-preserved, rare example in North Carolina of a patternbook-inspired Gothic cottage executed in brick, and in a rural setting. It is also tied to Dr. Nobles, a prominent physician, Methodist layman and progressive farmer. The church is a modest, little-altered post-Civil War country church linked to the house by history and land.
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 80002825, listed June 19, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NW of Mercer on SR 1224, Mercer |
|---|---|
| County | Edgecombe County |
| Listed | June 19, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002825 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1875 |
| Architect / builder | Possibly Thomas Coats (builder, not certain); design derived from patternbooks of Calvert Vaux and A. J. Downing |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival cottage |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Farmland remains in active agricultural use; the house is occupied as a private residence and the church is still used. The house is in good condition, with some alterations. |
| Acreage | 391 |
| Coordinates | 35.86724, -77.65585 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 80002825.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5303943
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.