Wilson, Lucy and J. Vassie, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1926 on a half-acre corner lot at 425 Hillcrest Drive in High Point's Emerywood subdivision, this two-story brick house was designed by architect Fred B. Klein for J. Vassie and Lucy Wilson. Its symmetrical front draws on Federal-era mansions of the mid-Atlantic and New England, with blind arches carrying garlands and urns, limestone keystones, quoins, a modillion cornice, a tile hipped roof and a semicircular columned porch with a Chinese Chippendale balustrade. Inside, the plan is deliberately informal: the front doors open straight into the living room, and a side stair hall is reached from the porte-cochere. The house also has a sunroom, breakfast room and glazed sleeping porch. A matching three-car garage includes an upstairs apartment that housed domestic employees. Most original finishes survive, including oak floors with walnut and sycamore borders. The house is recognized for its close adherence to Federal Revival design and its integrity.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be a locally significant, finely preserved example of Federal Revival architecture under Criterion C. Its symmetrical exterior draws on high-style Federal-era models, while its irregular interior plan reflects early twentieth-century ideas about comfort, ventilation and convenience. It ranks among the finest Colonial Revival houses in High Point and retains excellent integrity.
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 05000378, listed May 4, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 425 Hillcrest Dr., High Point |
|---|---|
| County | Guilford County |
| Listed | May 4, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000378 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1926 |
| Architect / builder | Klein, Fred B., architect |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Colonial Revival (described in the text as Federal Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single dwelling with a secondary structure (garage); the form describes the house as retaining excellent integrity, with most original interior features intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.97403, -80.02717 (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 05000378.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20679864
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.