Worsley-Burnette House
Why it's listed
Near Conetoe in southeastern Edgecombe County, this two-story frame farmhouse began about 1830 as a Federal style hall and parlor house, probably built for planter Mayo Worsley and his wife Nancy. Around 1850 Worsley added a cross-gabled Greek Revival wing that projected in front and doubled the house's size. The original section keeps detailed trim: half-beaded clapboards, a boxed cornice, three-part window surrounds, paneled wainscoting and reeded mantels with sunbursts. The newer wing has larger windows, high baseboards and plain Greek Revival mantels. Archie R. Burnette bought the property in 1935-36 and added classically detailed porches in the 1930s, but other changes were minor. The house is listed as a representative example of the Federal plantation houses that Edgecombe County planters built as improved farming made the county among the most productive in North Carolina. Its Greek Revival addition is a good local example of the plain, vernacular approach to that style.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a representative example of the well-detailed Federal style plantation houses built in rural Edgecombe County in the 1820s and 1830s, which reflect planter wealth from improved agriculture. The ca. 1850 Greek Revival front ell, an unusual addition, doubled the house in size and shows the same rising prosperity.
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 90000791, listed May 24, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SR 1526 N of jct. with SR 1540, Conetoe |
|---|---|
| County | Edgecombe County |
| Listed | May 24, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000791 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1830; ca. 1850 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Federal; Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; occupied by tenants since about 1985. |
| Acreage | 7 |
| Coordinates | 35.86238, -77.43671 (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 90000791.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18711695
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.