Greenwreath
Also known as: Foreman House
Why it's listed
Greenwreath is a large plantation house on a five-acre yard beside NC 43 in rural Pitt County, a few hundred yards from the Tar River. Built before 1791 by planter John Foreman, it is a two-and-a-half story, five-bay frame house with beaded siding, Flemish-bond end chimneys, a modillion cornice and a rear shed wing giving it a saltbox profile. Inside, a wide center hall, a dog-leg stair with scrolled brackets, fielded wainscoting and a parlor chair rail carved with flowers and swags show high-quality craftsmanship. The center-hall plan was rare in the region at the time. The Foreman family, who owned dozens of enslaved workers and thousands of acres, kept the property until 1919. John L. Foreman served in the state legislature. Outbuildings include a tenant dwelling and a brick ice house. The house is now unoccupied and has been used for tobacco storage, though its interior remains sound.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an unusually handsome and intact example of transitional late Georgian-early Federal architecture, one of few surviving in Pitt County, with an early center-hall plan and dog-leg stair. It is also tied to the Foreman family, wealthy planters and slaveholders, including state legislator John L. Foreman. Possible archeological remains add to its potential.
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 82003498, listed April 29, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Greenville, Greenville |
|---|---|
| County | Pitt County |
| Listed | April 29, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003498 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by John Foreman, per the narrative) |
| Architectural style | Late Georgian-early Federal vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unoccupied for several years, dilapidated in appearance but sound, with windows boarded up; recently used for tobacco storage. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 35.61210, -77.40025 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 82003498.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19720714
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.