Jenkins, David, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1876 or 1877 in Gastonia, Gaston County, this substantial two-story frame farmhouse has a low hip roof with ornamental brackets, two interior chimneys, and a central entrance with sidelights and a transom set with diamond-pattern wooden muntins. Its center hall contains an open string stair with turned balusters and a large newel. David Jenkins, a state treasurer elected on the Republican ticket in 1868 and re-elected in 1872, retired here after declining to run again in 1876. He was known as "Honest Dave" for his personal integrity and opposed Governor Holden's use of the militia against the Ku Klux Klan. The house later served as the boyhood home of his youngest son, Laban Lineberger Jenkins, who co-founded Gastonia's first bank, the Gastonia Bank, and was an organizer of the Gastonia Cotton Manufacturing Company, the town's first textile plant. Both men were important figures in the town's early industrial growth.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is linked to David Jenkins, a Reconstruction-era state treasurer known for personal honesty, and to his son L. L. Jenkins and son-in-law John Craig, who founded Gastonia's first bank and early textile mills. The house also shows a blend of Greek Revival and Italianate features typical of its period.
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 78001956, listed February 17, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1017 Church St., Gastonia |
|---|---|
| County | Gaston County |
| Listed | February 17, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001956 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1876-1877 |
| Architect / builder | David A. Jenkins (builder) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival with Italianate details |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered: original porch lost and additions made to the sides and rear, but the house is described as essentially unchanged; condition rated fair. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 35.26617, -81.16625 (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 78001956.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18577197
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.