Loretz House
Why it's listed
Built in 1793, this two-story brick house south of Lincolnton was constructed by Andrew Loretz, a Swiss-born preacher of the Reformed Church who arrived in America in 1784. The five-bay house is laid in Flemish bond with glazed headers. On the east gable, the headers spell out the initials "A. L." and the date, with a heart, an X and chevrons below, while the west gable carries a vertical lozenge pattern ending in a bull's-eye vent. The interior follows a Quaker plan, with paneled mantel walls, built-in cupboards and a later Federal mantel. A brick smokehouse and several log cabins stand nearby. The house is notable as a rare North Carolina example of German-tradition building with patterned brickwork, a type carried from the Delaware River region. Its Georgian details also show how that style lingered in western North Carolina during the Federal era. The house stayed in the Loretz family's line until 1857 and has been owned by the Logan family since 1926.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a rare North Carolina example of a German-tradition house with patterned brickwork, a building type brought from the Delaware River region. Its Georgian interior details show how Georgian features persisted in western North Carolina into the Federal era. The decorative brickwork and the blend of varied influences make it one of the state's more interesting examples.
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 72000969, listed March 16, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NW of Lincolnton off SR 1204, Lincolnton |
|---|---|
| County | Lincoln County |
| Listed | March 16, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000969 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century (specific date 1793) |
| Architect / builder | Andrew Loretz (builder, identified by the initials "A.L." in the brickwork) |
| Architectural style | German architectural tradition with Georgian and Federal elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition; occupied as a private residence, with an unaltered original site. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 35.51346, -81.26454 (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 72000969.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23405680
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.