Ireland, Charles H., House
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Why it's listed
Built in 1904 at the corner of Spring Street and Gaston Avenue, the Ireland House is a large two-and-one-half story residence of granite, yellow glazed brick and shingle, with a pedimented two-story portico, Ionic columns and a steeply pitched slate gambrel roof. The house is attributed to Andrew L. Schlosser, a German-born stonemason, though whether he or Ireland designed it cannot be fully documented. It is regarded as a notable survivor of the once fashionable residential district around downtown Greensboro, most of which has been lost to commercial growth. Its mix of Queen Anne, Neo-Classical Revival and Colonial Revival elements is seen as representative of a transitional moment in American domestic design. The house is also associated with Charles H. Ireland, who managed and later led the Odell Hardware Company and served as a trustee and benefactor of the Greensboro Female College. Its interior, including the original wallpaper and carved dark-stained woodwork on the first floor, is also regarded as largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the most flamboyant examples of turn-of-the-century architecture in Greensboro and one of the few surviving residences from the once fashionable neighborhoods near downtown. It is described as a vigorously eclectic blend of Queen Anne, Neo-Classical Revival and Colonial Revival styles. It is also tied to Ireland's business career with the Odell Hardware Company and his leadership in education and Methodist church affairs, especially his support of the Greensboro Female College.
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 79001715, listed May 29, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 602 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro |
|---|---|
| County | Guilford County |
| Listed | May 29, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001715 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1924 |
| Architect / builder | Andrew L. Schlosser (said locally to be the builder) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, Neo-Classical Revival, Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Commerce, Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Renovated after 1975 by the Roberts family, with the upper floors as living space and the first floor as an antique shop; the document also notes a planned street widening that would destroy a magnolia tree. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.07400, -79.79728 (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 79001715.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19462497
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.