Wilson, William J., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1824 on land then in Lincoln County, this two-story brick house near Gastonia is a Federal style dwelling with a stone foundation, Flemish bond brickwork, molded brick cornices, and paired end chimneys. A full basement once held the kitchen and dining room. Late nineteenth century changes added porches, a porte cochere, and decorative eave trim. Inside, a center hall plan holds Georgian-Federal mantels, wainscot, and moldings. The house was built for William Joseph Wilson, who served as Lincoln County register of deeds, acted as a justice of the peace known as Judge Wilson, and held a share in a local gold mining company. In 1827 state geologist Elisha Mitchell visited and recorded in his diary the large brick house and a supper taken in the underground room. The house is valued as a well crafted example of the region's early brick architecture and for its link to Wilson. It passed from his son Lawson to later owners after a public auction in 1890.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as a substantial example of the simplicity and good craftsmanship of the major brick houses of the Catawba River Valley in its period. It is also tied to William J. Wilson, a Lincoln County register of deeds, justice of the peace and gold mine proprietor. In 1827 he hosted state geologist Elisha Mitchell, whose diary describes the house and a supper in its basement dining room.
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 76001324, listed October 14, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S of Gastonia off SR 1109, Gastonia |
|---|---|
| County | Gaston County |
| Listed | October 14, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001324 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Federal, with later Victorian era elements |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in good condition and altered, and used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 35.16410, -81.21996 (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 76001324.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24436226
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.