Parker, Francis, House
Also known as: Parker's Big Run or High House
Why it's listed
Francis Parker built this one-and-a-half-story gambrel-roofed farmhouse in the last quarter of the eighteenth century on land near Panther Swamp in eastern Northampton County. It follows a hall-and-parlor plan with a rear shed and carries refined Georgian detail, including raised-panel wainscoting, fluted-pilaster mantels, a six-panel entrance door and a turned stair rail. Parker was a Quaker yeoman farmer, and the house reflects the modest but sturdy dwellings of that class. It stayed in the Parker family for generations, passing through his wife Sarah, son Lewis and later descendants, until the 1940s, when it was used for storage and its foundation and chimneys were removed. In 1976 a descendant bought it, moved it seven miles to US 158 and began restoring it with a high brick foundation and rebuilt chimneys. Gambrel-roof houses of this type are now rare in northeastern North Carolina, which is the basis for its recognition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of a few surviving 18th-century gambrel-roof hall-and-parlor dwellings in northeastern North Carolina, with refined Georgian detailing. It is also tied to the Parker family, long-time farmers in the region, and illustrates the dwellings of yeoman farmers of the period 1790-1860.
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 83001900, listed October 21, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Murfreesboro on US 158, Murfreesboro |
|---|---|
| County | Northampton County |
| Listed | October 21, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001900 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architectural style | Georgian details; hall-and-parlor plan gambrel-roof dwelling |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restoration was in progress, with the house on a new raised brick foundation, reconstructed chimneys and a private residence use; condition marked good. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 36.43838, -77.14830 (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 83001900.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19987454
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.