Sherwood, Michael, House
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Why it's listed
Built probably between 1849 and 1851 on what was then Gaston Street, this Greensboro house was the residence of Michael Swaim Sherwood, publisher of The Greensborough Patriot from 1839 into the 1860s. The original two-story brick block is three bays wide and two deep, with a center-hall plan, a pedimented gable and a one-story rear wing. Later changes include a raised rear wing, a stair tower, extra rooms and a full-height Roman Doric portico added in the early 1900s. Few ante-bellum homes survive in Greensboro, and this is one of the few Greek Revival examples. Sherwood managed the business side of the newspaper, later served as mayor, and was related to editor William Swaim, grandfather of the writer O. Henry. Local belief that the house predates 1829 or sheltered the Swaims lacks architectural or deed support. Family members owned it until a group converted it to law offices.
Significance in brief: It is one of the very few ante-bellum, Greek Revival houses remaining in Greensboro. It is also tied to The Greensborough Patriot, the newspaper Sherwood published, and to the Swaim family, relatives of the writer O. Henry. The nomination treats it as a reminder of an outstanding local family and of Sherwood's work in journalism.
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 78001958, listed January 31, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 426 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro |
|---|---|
| County | Guilford County |
| Listed | January 31, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001958 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1849-1851 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture, Communications |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition and occupied, with a private owner and commercial use; it has been adapted for law offices. It has been altered with later additions. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.07407, -79.79506 (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 78001958.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q21016179
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.