Nowell-Mayerburg-Oliver House
Why it's listed
Built around 1912 at 312 West Anderson Street in Selma, this two-story white frame house combines late Queen Anne massing with Neo-Classical details. Architect Albert Atkinson, a Johnston County native who practiced in Washington, D.C., designed it, and it is one of four houses he designed in the county. The square main block is expanded by gabled projecting bays and a three-story octagonal tower holding the main stair. A wrap-around porch with Ionic columns and a Palladian window over the entrance mark the exterior. Inside, three hand-carved mantels, an open string stair, stained glass windows and a built-in window seat in the turret show fine craftsmanship. Sheriff R. M. Nowell is recorded as the builder. Dr. Israel Mayerburg later added a rear kitchen wing, a bungalow-style summer house, a garage and a pergola. Dr. Robert Oliver, a Selma physician, bought the house in 1941. Its architecture and woodwork underpin its listing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a significant example of the Queen Anne style combined with Neo-Classical details. It is also the work of Albert Atkinson, a Johnston County native practicing in Washington, D.C., who designed four houses in the county. Its finely crafted interior woodwork, including three hand-carved mantels, an open string stair and a built-in window seat in the corner turret, adds to its importance.
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 82003478, listed June 24, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 312 W. Anderson St., Selma |
|---|---|
| County | Johnston County |
| Listed | June 24, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003478 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Albert Atkinson |
| Architectural style | Late Queen Anne with Neo-Classical details |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rated in excellent condition and unaltered on the form; still occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | West Selma Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.53756, -78.28619 (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 82003478.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19987347
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.