Conrad-Starbuck House
Why it's listed
Built in 1884 on South Cherry Street in Winston-Salem, this two-and-a-half-story brick house is the city's only surviving Italianate brick residence. John Calvin Conrad, a leader in the Moravian community and a town commissioner, had it built. In 1904 he sold it to Henry R. Starbuck, a lawyer, judge and state senator who lived there until 1941. The house has a modillioned cornice, segmental-arch hooded windows and a projecting central bay that once held a three-story tower, shortened between 1912 and 1917. Its side walls show unusual brickwork, including mouse-toothing and recessed panels. Inside, the central-hall plan survives with original first-floor mantels, an open-string stair, plaster moldings and a ceiling medallion. Early rear additions joined the old detached kitchen to the house. Interstate 40 now runs past it in a deep cut, and the neighborhood's other high-style homes are largely gone. It later became a clinic and offices.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant under Criterion C as a well-preserved, rare example of Italianate architecture in Winston-Salem and the city's only surviving Italianate brick residence. It is also one of a handful of large houses left in a once-fashionable late-19th-century neighborhood. Its interior retains original mantels, stair, woodwork and plaster moldings.
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 90000792, listed June 4, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 118 S. Cherry St., Winston-Salem |
|---|---|
| County | Forsyth County |
| Listed | June 4, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000792 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1884 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Divided by the current owner into a medical clinic, a rented room, living quarters and professional offices; originally a single-family dwelling for most of its 106 years. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 36.09345, -80.24686 (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 90000792.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19461125
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.