Stillwell, Erle, House II
Why it's listed
Built in 1935 at the corner of Blythe and Iowa Streets in Hendersonville, this one-story brick house was designed by Erle Stillwell as his own home. Stillwell was a leading local architect and later a founding partner of the Asheville firm Six Associates. He lived here until his death in 1978. The rambling, asymmetrical house combines French Eclectic massing with Tudor Revival and classical details, including a recessed entry porch of heavy timbers and curved rafters, brick quoins, wavy brick courses and multi-light casement windows. Inside are knotty pine paneling, pegged oak floors, deeply recessed slate sills and a granite fireplace surround. Granite retaining walls, slate paths and a curved brick wall at the rear patio complete the grounds, along with a ca. 1940 workshop. The property was listed for its architecture, as a highly intact and locally distinctive example of Stillwell's work and of the French Eclectic style in 1930s Hendersonville.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be an excellent local example of the French Eclectic and Tudor Revival styles, with classical detailing. It is a highly intact example of work by Erle Stillwell, an important North Carolina architect. Its French Eclectic style appears unique among documented 1930s houses in Hendersonville.
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 02000933, listed September 6, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 541 Blythe St., Hendersonville |
|---|---|
| County | Henderson County |
| Listed | September 6, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000933 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1935 |
| Architect / builder | Stillwell, Erle |
| Architectural style | French Eclectic; Tudor 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 (workshop) on the property. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 35.31773, -82.47801 (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 02000933.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24436238
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.