Brookland
Why it's listed
Two-story timber frame house with weatherboarding and cut stone chimneys, set in the fields of Granville County near Grassy Creek, North Carolina. Its Georgian and Federal finish is far more refined than its traditional hall-parlor plan, with Federal mantels carved with incised reeds and stars, three-part surrounds, raised six-panel doors, and a scalloped wainscot fringe found in no other known local dwelling. Charles L. and Elizabeth Read began the plantation in 1817, when Charles and his brother Howell bought 1,030 acres. The 1830 census lists Charles as owner of 53 slaves. Several outbuildings predate the Civil War, including a former kitchen with a Flemish bond chimney, which is unique among county outbuildings. The property is also significant for its bright leaf tobacco era barns, striphouse and stable, built in the early twentieth century. Together they document a traditional tobacco farm that operated from the late nineteenth century into the 1950s.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Brookland is one of the earliest and most finely finished Georgian and Federal style properties in Granville County, with carved Federal mantels, a unique scalloped chair rail fringe and original or early paint schemes. Its pre-Civil War outbuildings, including a rare Flemish bond chimney, and its bright leaf tobacco era outbuildings are presented as representing plantation life and a traditional tobacco farming way of life from the late nineteenth century into the 1950s.
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 88000412, listed April 28, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NC 1443, Grassy Creek |
|---|---|
| County | Granville County |
| Listed | April 28, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000412 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | circa 1817-1937 |
| Architectural style | Federal; Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house has been unoccupied and used for storage since the early 1980s; the interior is described as in good condition and intact. |
| Acreage | 23 |
| Coordinates | 36.51770, -78.57455 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 88000412.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18711537
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.