Bost, Henry Connor, House
Why it's listed
Built about 1869 on a knoll between Second and Third creeks near the South Yadkin River, this two-story weatherboarded frame house was home to Henry Connor Bost, a Confederate veteran and farmer. Bost bought a 136-acre tract in 1869 and became known as one of Rowan County's most progressive farmers. He kept blooded livestock, was among the first in his district to use a reaper, served a term in the state legislature, and was a vestryman at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. The house keeps a center-hall plan, flush-sheathed walls, heart pine floors and molded Greek Revival door and window surrounds. It is one of few houses known to have been built in rural Rowan County in the years just after the Civil War, and it continues antebellum detailing. Changes have been modest: a kitchen and bathroom now occupy the old rear shed porch, and a barn and pump house date from the 1960s. The Bost family kept the property until 1961.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a little-altered example of the vernacular Greek Revival style carried into the post-Civil War years, and one of the few houses built in rural Rowan County in that depressed period. It is also tied to Henry Connor Bost, a progressive farmer, church vestryman and one-term state legislator.
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 82001304, listed November 12, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E of Woodleaf off US 601, South River |
|---|---|
| County | Rowan County |
| Listed | November 12, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001304 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and used as a private summer residence; condition rated fair, with a kitchen and bathroom added in the former rear shed porch. |
| Acreage | 139.1 |
| Coordinates | 35.76652, -80.51163 (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 82001304.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19868150
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.