Dempsey-Reynolds-Taylor House
Also known as: See Also:Central Leaksville Historic District
Why it's listed
Built in the early 1820s by Dubartes Dempsey, the original frame section of this house in Leaksville, now part of Eden, retains much of its Federal style interior, including a handsome mantel and a stair with a plain wainscot. Behind it stands a brick structure with a large hearth, probably built in the early nineteenth century and possibly a detached kitchen. In the late nineteenth century a two-and-a-half story main block was added, with Italianate and Queen Anne ornament such as turned porch details, decorative gables and a plaster ceiling medallion. Owners included Dr. Anthony B. Johns, Dr. Thomas E. Reynolds, and Dr. Thomas Graves Taylor, all physicians. Members of the Reynolds family, including Charles A. Reynolds, who served as lieutenant governor of North Carolina from 1897 until 1901, were prominent Republicans. The house is regarded as one of Rockingham County's most historically important structures.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is architecturally notable for its surviving Federal style interior in the early frame section and its Italianate and Queen Anne main block, and that its owners, including three Leaksville physicians and members of the Reynolds family active in North Carolina Republican politics, give it local historical importance. The brick structure may be a rare surviving detached kitchen.
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 83001910, listed September 8, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 610 Henry St., Eden |
|---|---|
| County | Rockingham County |
| Listed | September 8, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001910 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Federal; Italianate and Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | A 1987 amendment states the house is no longer used as a residence and has been converted to office use. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Within district | Central Leaksville Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.49144, -79.76552 (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 83001910.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19868027
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.