Blue, John, House
Also known as: Blue House
Why it's listed
Built around 1888 in Aberdeen, Moore County, this hipped-roof Colonial Revival house was erected for John Blue, who founded the Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad. He had earlier made his money in turpentine and timber, and in land investments, and the house reflects the wealth he gained in the decades after the Civil War. A grand tetrastyle portico with Doric columns was added in 1903 to the front facade, which is set on a lawn with mature trees and a tree-lined drive. Inside, a central hall opens to two drawing rooms, a library, and a dining room, each with carved or reeded mantels, built-in cabinets, and cove or rope-motif cornices. The house is valued for its interior woodwork and for its association with Blue's business career. The grounds also held outbuildings including a frame smokehouse, greenhouse, and milk house with a pyramidal roof. Archaeological remains on the property may add to its importance, though no investigation has yet been carried out.
Significance in brief: The house is associated with John Blue, whose wealth from turpentine, timber, land investments and the railroad is presented as typical of post-war Southern industrialists. It is also an example of Colonial Revival architecture with fine neo-classical interior details, and the nomination notes possible archaeological value on the grounds.
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 82003488, listed July 29, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 200 Blue St., Aberdeen |
|---|---|
| County | Moore County |
| Listed | July 29, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003488 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Within district | Aberdeen Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.13070, -79.42248 (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 82003488.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19460581
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.