Kirkman, O. Arthur, House and Outbuildings (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: Blair School; Lynch's Select School for Boys; High Point Class
Why it's listed
Built in 1879 as part of Lynch's Select School for Boys, this small frame building at 106 Oak Street is High Point's oldest surviving schoolhouse. Its first section held an auditorium and study hall with two recitation rooms. It later served as Blair School, described as the city's first public school though privately owned and publicly subsidized, and then as the High Point Classical Institute in the late 1880s. In 1898 O. Arthur Kirkman bought it, and about 1911 he moved it roughly 60 feet south to make room for his new house. Porches were added as it became a residence, giving it a cruciform plan with Victorian detailing and pointed-arch window and door caps typical of 1880s schools. It was separated from the Kirkman estate in 1986 and reunited with it in 1988. It is added to the Kirkman House listing for its role in local education and its architecture, with significance from 1879 to 1930.
Significance in brief: It is High Point's oldest surviving schoolhouse and the oldest frame building in the downtown area identified as historically significant in the 1976-77 state inventory. It reflects the city's early educational efforts, from a private boys' school through a subsidized school and a classical institute. It also represents popular turn-of-the-century residential architecture in wood after its 1898 conversion to a home.
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 89000495, listed June 9, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 106 Oak St., High Point |
|---|---|
| County | Guilford County |
| Listed | June 9, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000495 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1879-1930 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Victorian Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restoration began in 1986, including a new roof, a repaired north porch, a rebuilt west porch and replicated window sashes; the interior was still in disrepair, with mechanical systems, patching, painting and chimney stabilization planned. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 35.95317, -80.01157 (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 89000495.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19462796
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.