Ledbetter, James Dexter, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1914 about three miles west of Forest City, Rutherford County, this two-and-one-half story frame house combines Neoclassical and Colonial Revival elements into a dramatic composition. Its facade is defined by a two-story porch of continuous Tuscan columns, with the central bay doubled and capped by a deep pedimented gable with an oval window. A one-story porch wraps partway down each side, and a flat central roof section is bordered by a heavy balustrade. The double-pile plan opens into a ten-foot central hall with paneled wainscotting, a full entablature cornice, stained glass sidelights and transom, and a mirror framed by Corinthian columns. Original woodwork and mirrored mantels survive throughout. The house was built for James Dexter Ledbetter, a Forest City businessman who founded the National Bank of Forest City in 1923. It is regarded as the finest country house in the county in its day and remains its outstanding survivor of this type.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a bold and inventive interpretation of Neoclassical and Colonial Revival design, and that it was the finest country house in Rutherford County in its day and remains the county's outstanding example of its type. Its association with James Dexter Ledbetter, a prominent Forest City businessman and bank president, is also cited. The property is said to possibly contain archaeological remains of a late eighteenth-century tavern.
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 82003511, listed June 14, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Off US 74, Forest City |
|---|---|
| County | Rutherford County |
| Listed | June 14, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003511 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1914 |
| Architect / builder | James Andrew Baynard (builder/architect as listed in the form); family tradition credits Mr. Ledbetter with the design and local contractor Andy Baynard with construction |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical and Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Little altered and in excellent repair; the form states it is unoccupied apart from visits by the owner's family. |
| Acreage | 15.7 |
| Coordinates | 35.35320, -81.90139 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 82003511.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19875046
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.