House on Wagstaff Farm
Why it's listed
Set on a hillock amid pastures and fields in northwestern Person County, this early-nineteenth-century farmhouse is a one-story-with-attic frame dwelling about thirty-two feet wide. It rests on a fieldstone foundation and has a side-gable metal roof, rubble-stone end chimneys with brick stacks, and a small original pent room beside the east chimney. Inside, the hall-and-parlor plan retains hand-planed wainscots, six-panel doors, a heavily molded hall mantel, and a corner winder stair with an unusual octagonal newel. The finished attic repeats the stair detailing and has a small paneled fireplace. A porch and rear shed room were added around 1920. The house has stood vacant for years, though its plan and many original details survive. Its builder is unknown, and deed research suggests, without proving, that Jacob Thomas may have built it. It was listed for its architectural value as a rare, well-preserved example of a once-common local house type.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a locally significant and increasingly rare example of the modest Georgian-Federal transitional farmhouses once common in Person County. Its form, hall-and-parlor plan, pent room, and many original interior features remain intact. The two-room attic is unusually sophisticated and well preserved.
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 06000229, listed April 5, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE side NC 57, 1.4 mi. NW of jct. with NC 1300, Roxboro |
|---|---|
| County | Person County |
| Listed | April 5, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000229 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | First quarter of nineteenth century |
| Architectural style | Georgian; Federal (transitional Georgian-Federal) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant for many years; condition ranges from fair to good, and the owners plan to restore it to its original appearance. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 36.46264, -79.07957 (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 06000229.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19874368
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.