Herring House
Why it's listed
Set on a dirt lane southwest of LaGrange in Lenoir County, this two-story frame farmhouse is a well-preserved example of Federal domestic architecture. Beaded weatherboards cover the walls, which rest on a Flemish bond brick foundation. The five-bay front has a central entrance with a four-light transom, and step-shouldered brick chimneys flank each end; the west chimney holds a brick dated 1801. Inside, a center passage divides two large parlors, with an open-string stair and Federal mantels decorated with gouged and carved ornament. An early built-in cupboard at the head of a secondary stair is another notable feature. The house was built by the Herring family, among the earliest settlers of the county, whose land patent dates to 1720. It was probably built by Edward Matchet Herring or his son William, and the homestead has stayed in the family since. Its restrained but inventive detail reflects the more ambitious vernacular houses of its time.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a well-preserved Federal farmhouse with restrained yet inventive detail typical of the more ambitious vernacular dwellings of its period. It was also built by one of the early families to settle in what is now Lenoir County, and it has remained in the family.
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 73001356, listed October 25, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NW of LaGrange off SR 1503, LaGrange |
|---|---|
| County | Lenoir County |
| Listed | October 25, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001356 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1801) |
| Architect / builder | Probably built by Edward Matchet Herring (1755-1825) or his son William Herring (1779-1830) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Good condition, altered, on original site; occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 35.32913, -77.80578 (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 73001356.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5744101
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.