Moore, Walter E., House
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Why it's listed
Built in 1886 on Main Street in Webster, this one-and-one-half-story weatherboard house was the home of Walter E. Moore, a young lawyer who lived there for thirty-six years. It has a T-plan, a hipped porch with turned posts and sawnwork brackets, a central front gable, and window headings with modest pedimental trim. Inside are a pressed tin ceiling in the stair hall, beadboard wainscot, and an oak mantel with overmantel mirror. A well-house and buggy shed from the same era remain behind the house. The house influenced local building: its window moldings, T-plan and front gable were echoed in the Webster Methodist Church and several other area houses. Moore served in the state legislature, sponsored a 1893 bill that led to teacher-training departments in state high schools, and was elected Speaker of the House in 1901. He later served as a superior court judge. The house remains in residential use and retains its original character.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its architecture, as a simple vernacular dwelling with Victorian detailing that influenced other Webster buildings after 1886. It is also significant for its link to Walter E. Moore, a lawyer and legislator who became Speaker of the North Carolina House in 1901 and later a superior court judge.
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 90000322, listed February 23, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Webster |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Listed | February 23, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000322 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1886-1922 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Other: vernacular Victorian |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single dwelling; the house and outbuildings have been refurbished by the current owners and the house is described as little changed since construction. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 35.34420, -83.27501 (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 90000322.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19987166
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.