Way, Dr. J. Howell, House
Why it's listed
Built about 1899 on Waynesville's South Main Street, this large brick house was the home of Dr. J. Howell Way, a physician who rose to lead North Carolina's State Board of Health from 1911 until his death in 1927. The two-and-one-half-story house has a complex roof with projecting gables and dormers, turned-post porches, sawn brackets, and a second-floor balcony. Inside, four first-floor mantels carry classical carvings, and one rests on carved griffins. A small brick medical office and a two-story carriage house remain on the 1.48-acre lot. A local newspaper of 1900 called it the largest residence in Waynesville. Dr. Way's son, J. Howell Way Jr., a banker, lived there all his life and served as mayor from 1935 to 1963. The property is valued for its blend of Queen Anne and Colonial Revival design, its link to the town's late nineteenth-century growth, and its association with two prominent local figures.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as one of the most prominent late nineteenth-century residences remaining in Waynesville, combining Queen Anne and Colonial Revival elements. It is also tied to Dr. Way, a leading North Carolina physician who served as president of the State Board of Health, and to his son, who was mayor of Waynesville for twenty-eight years. It is also linked to the economic and social growth of western North Carolina.
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 80002846, listed September 11, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 301 S. Main St., Waynesville |
|---|---|
| County | Haywood County |
| Listed | September 11, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002846 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1890 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne and Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Health/Medicine, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied and slightly altered, in private ownership; the owners hoped to sell to a preservation-minded buyer. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 35.48781, -82.98894 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 80002846.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24436235
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.