Hill-Grainger Historic District
Why it's listed
Three blocks north of downtown Kinston, this 81-acre neighborhood of tree-lined streets contains 145 primary buildings, 140 of them houses, built mostly between 1900 and 1941. North Queen Street forms its spine, lined with substantial residences in the Queen Anne, Neo-Classical Revival, Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival styles. The higher northern section, once called "The Hill," grew from a few large estates. Sarahurst, a brick Neo-Classical Revival house designed by New Bern architect H. W. Simpson, was moved in 1914 when Queen Street was extended. The former Grainger High School, built in 1924 to designs by Leslie Boney, anchors the area. The southern section holds more modest frame dwellings and many Craftsman Bungalows, including two mail-order Aladdin Homes. Development slowed during the Depression and was nearly complete by 1941. Of 207 resources, most contribute to the district's character, and later infill is limited. The district is listed as an intact example of Kinston's early twentieth-century residential growth.
Significance in brief: The district is described as within the mainstream of North Carolina's residential construction in the early 20th century. It includes outstanding examples of Queen Anne, Neo-Classical Revival, Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival and Craftsman Bungalow styles. The northern section, known as "The Hill," was developed from large estates and includes houses by architect H. W. Simpson and the former Grainger High School by Leslie Boney.
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 89001764, listed November 8, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Summit Ave., N. East St., E. & W. Vernon Ave., and N. Heritage St., Kinston |
|---|---|
| County | Lenoir County |
| Listed | November 8, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001764 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | H. W. Simpson (New Bern); Leslie Boney (Wilmington); Liston Mallard; R. L. Blalock (contractor); Sam Harrell (contractor) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Queen Anne, Tudor Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Buildings are in fair to excellent condition. A few houses have been converted to commercial or office use. Plans are underway to restore the former Grainger High School auditorium as a performing arts center and to renovate the rest of the building as offices. |
| Acreage | 81 |
| Coordinates | 35.27130, -77.57972 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 89001764.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19462314
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.