Grier-Rea House
Why it's listed
Built around 1815 for the Reverend Isaac Grier, a Presbyterian minister in Providence Township, this two-story farmhouse in southern Mecklenburg County was expanded about 1830 with a two-story rear ell. Its heavy timber frame, side-gable main block and hip-roofed porch reflect a common early nineteenth century pattern, but the interior sets it apart. Flushboard walls, beaded-board ceilings, paneled wainscoting and Federal mantels survive, including an elaborate mantel with fluted pilasters in the original hall. The porch posts are set forward of the floor to shed water, a feature recorded nowhere else in the county. In 2002 the house was moved roughly one mile east to avoid demolition, staying in the same township and on a similar rise of land. Chimneys, roof and siding were rebuilt or replaced to match the originals during rehabilitation. It is considered locally significant as one of the few remaining plantation-era farmhouses in the county.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of the finer early nineteenth century farmhouses surviving in Mecklenburg County, where only twenty-seven pre-Civil War houses were identified. It is noted for well-preserved Federal interior finishes and an unusual porch with posts set forward of the floor, the only recorded Mecklenburg example. It meets the criteria for moved properties because it stayed in Providence Township on a similar tree-shaded rise.
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 10000603, listed August 30, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6701 Providence Rd, Charlotte |
|---|---|
| County | Mecklenburg County |
| Listed | August 30, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000603 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1815-ca. 1830 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Undergoing rehabilitation at its new location; the roof and chimneys were reconstructed and much siding and many windows replaced with replicas. Current function is listed as work in progress. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 35.11694, -80.77878 (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 10000603.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19462086
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.