Edgerton, Noah Edward, House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1896 on a large treed lot in Selma, this two-story frame house follows the Queen Anne style, with an asymmetrical plan, a three-story octagonal corner turret, and decorative saw-tooth shingles beneath a slate roof. Its one-story wraparound porch, with turned posts and sawnwork brackets, is a rare Eastlake design in the town. Inside, a center hall plan holds a finely carved closed-string stair and several hand-carved mantels, including an Eastlake mantel with a beveled glass mirror. A rear service wing housing the kitchen and pantry was added in 1901. The house is linked to Noah Edward Edgerton, born in 1867, who arrived in Selma around 1886 as the first depot agent for the Atlantic Coast Line. He was elected mayor in 1896 and served until 1901. He also helped found several early twentieth-century Selma businesses, including the Selma Cotton Mills and the Bank of Selma. He died in Raleigh in 1921.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a prime example of Queen Anne styling, with an ornate Eastlake-style front porch that is unique in Selma. It is also associated with Noah E. Edgerton, a depot agent who became a prominent Selma businessman and local politician, including as mayor and co-founder of several early twentieth-century industries.
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 82003477, listed June 24, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 301 W. Railroad St., Selma |
|---|---|
| County | Johnston County |
| Listed | June 24, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003477 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1896 |
| Architect / builder | Mr. Worley (contractor); house built from plans drawn by an architectural firm in Raleigh |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The current owners plan to restore the house; the house was converted to apartments in the 1920s and 1930s. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 35.53627, -78.29671 (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 82003477.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19461535
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.