Houston, George, House
Why it's listed
Built about 1818 on a rural tract near Mount Mourne in Iredell County, this two-story farmhouse has a log core covered in weatherboards. Its modified hall-parlor plan, gable roof and Flemish bond end chimneys on granite foundations are typical of Piedmont vernacular building. Inside, flush sheathing, a molded mantel frieze, six-panel doors and a stair with square balusters show local use of Federal style detail. Behind the house stand a frame outbuilding, a granite-curbed well and a half-dovetail log barn whose passage runs the full length of the building from gable to gable, which is unusual. The ownership history is uncertain, though James Hiram Houston received the land in 1817 and likely built the house. Its listing rests on its place in Iredell County's early farming economy and its representative architecture. Later documentation calls it the best preserved of the few surviving well-finished log houses in the county. In 1999 it was approved for moving within the parcel to avoid demolition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house and its outbuildings form an early 19th century farm complex typical of Iredell County's agrarian economy. The log core, modified hall-parlor plan, gable roof and end chimneys are typical of Piedmont vernacular building, while the mantels, moldings, six-panel doors and stair show local use of the Federal style. The log barn, with an unusual passage running gable to gable, is called one of the finest in the county.
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 80002865, listed November 24, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NC 115, Mount Mourne |
|---|---|
| County | Iredell County |
| Listed | November 24, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002865 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1818 |
| Architectural style | Early Federal vernacular farmhouse |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked occupied and in good condition in 1980. A 1999 request approved moving the house about 400 feet south within the original parcel to save it from demolition; the log barn would stay behind. |
| Acreage | 31.5 |
| Coordinates | 35.52242, -80.84092 (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 80002865.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707936
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.