Locust Grove
Also known as: Foster House
Why it's listed
Locust Grove is a two-story frame plantation house on U.S. 401 near Ingleside in Franklin County, North Carolina. Five bays wide beneath a gable roof, it has Flemish bond end chimneys, nine-over-nine sash windows and a rear ell that gives it a T-shaped plan. Inside, the vigorous Georgian finish includes plastered walls above paneled or flush-sheathed wainscots, six-panel doors and tall mantels with fluted pilasters and dentil cornices. The nomination calls it among the best Georgian houses in the county, with interiors of exceptional quality. The first owner is uncertain, but early owners included Thomas Bell, a local assemblyman and merchant, and John Haywood, later a state attorney general and Superior Court judge. Peter Foster bought the property in 1815, and his family held it for decades. Fenton Foster, said to have developed early typesetting and typewriting machines, lived there in the 1880s.
Significance in brief: The house is described as one of the best examples of Georgian architecture in Franklin County, with ambitious vernacular Georgian interiors of exceptional quality, including robust mantels and paneled wainscots. It was also owned by prominent figures such as Thomas Bell and John Haywood, and later by the Foster family.
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 75001269, listed November 20, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of Louisburg on U.S. 401, Ingleside |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | November 20, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001269 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well preserved and in good condition; occupied as a private residence at the time of the nomination. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 36.17543, -78.29028 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 75001269.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18711601
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.