Redmond-Shackelford House
Why it's listed
Behind a fence and a densely planted garden near Tarboro's business district stands a two-story Second Empire town house with a mansard roof, completed in 1885 for sisters Claudia and Kate Redmond. Its brick walls are covered in stucco scored to resemble stone, with heavy quoins, segmental-arched windows, round-arched dormers, slate roofing in a floral pattern, iron cresting and a wooden front porch. A separate brick kitchen, a fountain and a lily pond complete the grounds. Inside, the hall, library and parlor carry painted woodgraining, stenciled ceilings, gilded plaster cornices and medallions, probably the work of Edward Zoeller, a Bavarian-born fresco painter who worked in Edgecombe County. Kate Redmond married fertilizer merchant and knitting mill builder Jonathan F. Shackelford in the house in December 1885, and it has stayed in the family. Its largely unchanged exterior and interior, together with the family's furnishings and possessions, led to its recognition for architecture and art.
Significance in brief: The house is a flamboyantly finished and extremely well-preserved example of Second Empire style, essentially unaltered. Its interior has a remarkable array of plaster and painted ornament, probably by the Bavarian-born local fresco painter Edward Zoeller. The form marks architecture and art as areas of significance, and it has remained in the same family since it was built.
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 76001320, listed December 12, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 300 Main St., Tarboro |
|---|---|
| County | Edgecombe County |
| Listed | December 12, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001320 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1885 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, unaltered and occupied; the separate kitchen is still used for daily cooking on a wood-burning stove. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Tarboro Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.89626, -77.53525 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 76001320.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19987764
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.