Paisley J. W., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1910-1911 beside the entrance of what is now Winston-Salem State University, this two-story house is three bays wide, set on a brick foundation laid in four-course common bond and sheathed in wood shingles. Its clipped gable roofs and dormers form a bold turn-of-the-century design, and a recessed porch behind arches gives the facade its character. Inside, plaster walls, molded surrounds and a closed string stair with square newel and balusters reflect the period. The house was built on a lot Paisley purchased in 1910 on Idabell Avenue, in the Columbian Heights neighborhood that Dr. S. G. Atkins developed to attract qualified teachers to the Slater Industrial Academy. Paisley, a Shaw University graduate and native of Winston-Salem, taught there and later served the city school system, first as principal of Oak Street Grade School for thirteen years and then at Kimberly Park School, where he finished his career.
Significance in brief: The house is associated with John W. Paisley, a teacher and later school principal who was recruited to the Slater Industrial Academy by its founder and benefited from the Columbian Heights community established to attract faculty. Its clipped gable roofs and dormers are described as a bold turn-of-the-century form.
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 79001706, listed July 22, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 934 Stadium Dr., Winston-Salem |
|---|---|
| County | Forsyth County |
| Listed | July 22, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001706 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Education, Social History |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.09008, -80.22690 (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 79001706.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19987442
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.