Smith, Francis Marion, House
Why it's listed
Set on a broad lot facing the Southern Railroad in Gibsonville, this two-and-a-half-story frame house was built in 1898 by local farmer and businessman Francis Marion Smith. It combines Queen Anne and Colonial Revival design: a slate roof with gables projecting in four directions, tall corbeled chimneys, and a full-width porch with Tuscan columns, turned spindles and dentil molding. Inside, a center-hall plan features beaded wainscot, bullseye-block door surrounds and a spindle screen in the hall. A brick well house and smokehouse survive in the rear yard. The house is considered the finest surviving residence from the period when a cotton mill drove Gibsonville's growth. It is one of three houses linked to the Whitsett Institute, where Smith's wife, Lizzie Whitsett Smith, taught. Smith served as an alderman and bank director. After his death in 1910, the house stood vacant for a time and was later divided into rental apartments before restoration began.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the most stylish and impressive surviving residence from Gibsonville's 1890-1910 growth period. It blends Queen Anne and Colonial Revival elements and is one of three houses tied to the Whitsett Institute. It is also associated with Smith, a local farmer, businessman and civic official, and his wife Lizzie Whitsett, a teacher at the school.
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 84002330, listed July 12, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 204 Railroad Ave., Gibsonville |
|---|---|
| County | Guilford County |
| Listed | July 12, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002330 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1898 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by Francis Marion Smith in 1898) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne and Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; in good condition and being restored by the current owner, with some alterations such as an enclosed rear porch. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 36.10442, -79.54086 (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 84002330.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20713825
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.