Ledbetter, Albertus, House
Why it's listed
Set in a hollow beside Greasy Creek in Montford Cove, this two-story timber frame farmhouse was built in 1826 by Jonathan Ledbetter, a prosperous farmer and postmaster. He enlarged it in 1836 with a northern section holding a stair passage and parlor. His son Albertus lived there for decades, and the house carries his name. The exterior and interior remain remarkably intact, with six-over-six windows, original hand-painted doors, locks and hinges, and a double-shoulder Flemish bond chimney. A full-width porch leads into a central passage whose wainscot is painted to imitate raised panels. The artist Charles Dunkin signed one interior door and dated another 1836. The stair has a carved vine-like motif. Outbuildings include a log smokehouse and a log spring house, both from 1826, with a stone retaining wall and sluice. The property was listed for architecture as one of few surviving early nineteenth-century dwellings in McDowell County.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rare, largely unaltered early nineteenth-century timber frame dwelling with late Federal details in McDowell County. Notable features include a painted wainscot that imitates raised panels and runs from the porch into the central passage, a vine-like carved stair string, and hand-painted interior finishes signed by Charles Dunkin.
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 00001616, listed January 4, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 125 Haynes Rd., Montford Cove |
|---|---|
| County | McDowell County |
| Listed | January 4, 2001 |
| Reference number | 00001616 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1826-1836 |
| Architect / builder | Jonathan Ledbetter (builder, named in the narrative); the form lists architect/builder as N/A |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal (described in the narrative as Federal/Greek Revival) |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The function section lists the current use as vacant/not in use, while the narrative says the current owners have restored the house for their residence. |
| Acreage | 5.2 |
| Coordinates | 35.53560, -82.10465 (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 00001616.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24436254
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.