Wheless, Thomas and Lois, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1954-1955 on a wooded one-acre lot in Louisburg, this one-story house combines glass, wood, and stone in a Modernist design influenced by Mies van der Rohe. Dr. Thomas and Lois Wheless hired Raleigh architect G. Milton Small to design it. Hidden steel pipes carry the structure, which allows a south wall made almost entirely of glass, while the street-facing west side is a windowless stone façade that offers privacy. A low gable roof with wide overhangs appears to float above the walls, and a carport with bright blue steel poles stands at the west end of the north side. Inside, birch paneling, cork and slate floors, and extensive built-in storage define the plan, including a sewing room designed for Lois Wheless. In a town of historic and traditional architecture, the house was an uncommon choice. It is listed for its local architectural importance and as a strong example of Small's work. The period of significance is 1955, the year of completion.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be significant under Criterion C as an excellent, little-altered example of mid-twentieth-century Modernist residential design. It also represents the work of G. Milton Small, a leading advocate of Miesian design in Raleigh. When built, it was unlike any other house in traditional Louisburg and remains a local architectural landmark of Modernism.
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 07000887, listed August 28, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 106 John St., Louisburg |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | August 28, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000887 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1955 |
| Architect / builder | Small, G. Milton -- Architect |
| Architectural style | Modernist, of Miesian design influence |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and almost completely unaltered, with only minor changes such as replaced bathroom sinks, kitchen appliances, and the privacy fence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Louisburg Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.10037, -78.29538 (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 07000887.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24436222
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.