Kearney, Shemuel, House
Why it's listed
Standing on a hill above U.S. 1 about a mile south of Franklinton, this frame house has a gambrel roof, a form unusual in Franklin County. The main block rises one and one-half stories and has three bays, with shed dormers across the front and a single brick chimney at the east gable. A one-story rear ell was added later. Inside, two rooms sit across the front and two across the rear, divided by a small central hall. Corner fireplaces, raised-panel doors, paneled wainscot, exposed beaded beams and simple Georgian mantels survive. The house is believed to have been built before the Revolution for planter Shemuel Kearney, who bought the land in 1758. His 1808 will refers to it as "the old House." Its plain Georgian finish and roof form suggest it is among the earliest eighteenth-century houses in the county. His grandson and namesake is remembered as the founder of nearby Franklinton.
Significance in brief: The house is believed to be among the earliest of the few eighteenth-century houses in Franklin County. Its simple, robust Georgian finish and gambrel roof form, which is unusual in the county, support this view. It was called "the old House" in a 1808 will, and it is tied to the Kearney family, whose later namesake is described as the "father" of Franklinton.
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 75001261, listed June 5, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1 mi. S of Franklinton on U.S. 1, Franklinton |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | June 5, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001261 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and occupied as a private residence at the time of nomination; wooden shingles were added to the exterior in recent years. |
| Acreage | 8 |
| Coordinates | 36.07685, -78.48113 (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 75001261.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18711594
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.