May-Lewis, Benjamin, House
Why it's listed
Set at the end of an asphalt lane off US 264-A near Farmville, this frame farmhouse was most likely built in the 1830s by Benjamin May III, a prosperous Pitt County planter. It began as a single-pile, two-story house with a Federal finish and was remodeled in the 1850s into a double-pile, center-hall dwelling with Greek Revival touches. Inside, Federal chair rails, panelled doors and mantels survive alongside Greek Revival surrounds and two heavy parlor-style mantels drawn from Asher Benjamin's patternbooks. A kitchen and dining wing and a wraparound porch were added in the early twentieth century. Benjamin May Lewis, Sr., a grandson of May, bought the house in 1904 and moved in during 1907, and the Lewis family still owns it. The surrounding farm keeps a smokehouse, packhouses, stables, tobacco barns and a family cemetery. The house is valued for its craftsmanship, its place among surviving early planter dwellings, and its family associations.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of a dwindling number of substantial early nineteenth century houses in Pitt County. It has fine Federal and Greek Revival interior woodwork, including two Greek Revival mantels derived from Asher Benjamin patternbooks. It is also tied to the prominent May and Lewis families, and its form shows how a single-pile house grew into a double-pile, center-hall dwelling.
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 85001337, listed June 20, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | US 264-A, Farmville |
|---|---|
| County | Pitt County |
| Listed | June 20, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001337 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Federal-Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, occupied as a private residence on a working farm with numerous outbuildings; continuously owned by descendants of Benjamin May III. |
| Acreage | 202 |
| Coordinates | 35.60973, -77.64268 (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 85001337.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19720711
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.