High Rock Farm
Why it's listed
High Rock Farm is a large Federal-style brick house in Rockingham County, North Carolina, built early in the nineteenth century by Joseph McCain, a prosperous merchant who began buying land near High Rock Ford on the Haw River in 1805. The house rises two stories over a full basement on an L plan, with a hip roof, and its front is dominated by a pedimented portico carried on two colossal stuccoed columns. Palladian-style windows and entrances with heavy stuccoed keystone arches and fanlights give the facade its character. Inside, a central hall plan, an open-string stair, and carefully detailed mantels show Federal finish of a quality rare in the area. The house was built as a residence but often served as an inn when the river could not be crossed. A post office later made High Rock a small community. After deterioration, the house was bought and renovated in 1939 and remains in good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the most impressive Federal period house in Rockingham County. Its monumental portico with massive columns, fanlighted entrances, Palladian windows with stuccoed keystone arches, and fine interior Federal finish are described as unusual in quality for the area. It is also tied to the High Rock Ford crossing and to the community that grew around it.
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 74001373, listed April 26, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SE of Reidsville on SR 2619, Williamsburg |
|---|---|
| County | Rockingham County |
| Listed | April 26, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001373 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Joseph McCain (builder/original owner, a merchant) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, altered, on its original site, and used as a private residence; the deteriorated house was renovated in 1939. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 36.26013, -79.56642 (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 74001373.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19868242
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.