Humphrey-Williams House
Also known as: See Also:Humphrey--Williams Plantation (Boundary Increase)
Why it's listed
Humphrey-Williams House is a two-story frame farmhouse south of Lumberton in Robeson County, built in the second quarter of the nineteenth century. Set close to the road among large trees and an early picket fence, it is five bays wide and three deep, with a high brick foundation, lapped siding, and nine-over-nine windows. A shed porch with turned posts resembling coiled rope is finished like an interior room, with paneled wainscot, three entrances and a railing matching the stair. Inside, a center hall and rooms with distinct mantels continue the Greek Revival finish, and the parlor has a plaster ceiling medallion. Early outbuildings survive, including a barn, carriage house, smokehouse and a store that held the Raft Swamp Post Office from 1856. The house is valued as a well-preserved example of antebellum architecture in a sparsely settled, swampy county, and for its fluid handling of indoor and outdoor space. A later amendment corrected the builder's death date to 1846 and credited his enslaved carpenter, Daniel.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an unusual, well-preserved vernacular Greek Revival house that treats porches as rooms, a regional trait suited to the lowland climate. It is one of the best-preserved antebellum houses in Robeson County. The full set of early outbuildings, including an 1856 store-post office, adds to its integrity as a farm complex.
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 73001367, listed July 24, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W of Lumberton on NC 211, Lumberton |
|---|---|
| County | Robeson County |
| Listed | July 24, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001367 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | between 1835-1856 (19th century) |
| Architect / builder | Richard B. Humphrey (apparently built the house); a later amendment credits his slave carpenter Daniel |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, altered only by a small rear wing, and described as under restoration; occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Within district | Humphrey-Williams Plantation (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 34.70244, -79.06222 (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 73001367.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5941268
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.