Burras House
Why it's listed
Near Jamesville in Martin County, North Carolina, this one-story frame farmhouse with a finished attic represents a shrinking group of small, well-finished vernacular farmhouses in the state's eastern counties. Its Federal style details point to an early nineteenth century date, though the exact age is unknown. The porch is its best-known feature, with turned Doric-type posts so swollen at the middle that they are called milk-bottle columns. Inside, the original raised-panel door, enclosed stair and several Federal mantels survive, including an ornate rear mantel carved with sunbursts, scrolls and a shell. The house takes its name from George Moore Burras, who lived there from the 1850s for about fifty years. It descended through the Moore, Burras and Smithwick families and was moved a short distance in 1928. After years as a rental and then a decade of vacancy, it was given to a local foundation intending to restore it.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of Martin County's least altered early nineteenth century dwellings, a vernacular Federal style frame cottage. Its interior and exterior ornament is unusually varied, with each motif appearing only once. Its turned porch columns, nicknamed "milk-bottle columns," are shared with only two other known houses in neighboring Washington County.
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 78001962, listed March 30, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | On U.S. 64, Jamesville |
|---|---|
| County | Martin County |
| Listed | March 30, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001962 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Federal style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rented to tenants for over thirty years, then vacant for nearly a decade; donated in 1976 to a preservation foundation that plans restoration, possibly as a library. Condition listed as fair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.80932, -76.90106 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 78001962.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19460749
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.