Clarke-Hobbs-Davidson House
Also known as: Masonic Temple; Charles A. Hobbs House
Why it's listed
Built about 1907 on a narrow city lot on Fifth Avenue West in Hendersonville, this two-and-a-half-story brick house combines Queen Anne and Colonial Revival features. Its red pressed brick walls, hipped roof with a pedimented dormer, and a full-width porch on rough stone posts with paired Doric colonnettes give it a pronounced central axis. Inside, a centre hall plan with extensive natural oak woodwork survives, including five-part door and window surrounds, a dog-leg stair with heavy newels, and a parlor mantel with Ionic colonnettes and a mirrored overmantel. The dining room has a deeply coffered ceiling. Charles S. Clarke and his wife Louise were early owners, and the house passed to Alfred J. Hobbs in 1907 and later to Ada S. Davidson in 1911. Roy and Catherine Noble owned it by 1932. In 1958 the Masons acquired it and added a rear brick wing, which is largely hidden from the street. Brick houses of this age are uncommon in Hendersonville, which makes the house notable for its period, materials and interior finish.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the house is one of the most imposing surviving historic residences near downtown Hendersonville and that brick houses of its age are relatively rare in the city. Its interior woodwork, including extensive natural oak trim and an elaborate parlor mantel, is cited as retaining a high degree of integrity. It is presented as one of the finest local examples of early 20th-century domestic architecture in the transitional Queen Anne/Colonial Revival style.
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 89000031, listed February 24, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 229 5th Ave. West, Hendersonville |
|---|---|
| County | Henderson County |
| Listed | February 24, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000031 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1907 |
| Architectural style | Transitional Queen Anne/Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a Masonic meeting hall since 1958 |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 35.31784, -82.46206 (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 89000031.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19461013
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.