Clear Run
Why it's listed
Clear Run is a crossroads settlement on the Black River in southern Sampson County, where NC 411 crosses the river. Amos J. Johnson moved his store and farming business here about 1870 and added naval stores production, a turpentine still, a cotton gin and a fleet of steamboats. The surviving complex includes the Marvin Johnson House of about 1898, with beaded tongue-and-groove sheathing laid in horizontal, vertical and diagonal patterns, and Johnson's own 1909 Colonial Revival house. A furniture store, a grocery, a cotton gin, a moved 1830s Federal Herring House, farm outbuildings and a family cemetery also remain. The remains of the steamer A. J. Johnson, which sank in 1914, are visible in the river at low water. The property was listed because it is described as the last surviving riverboat landing and trading community on the Black River, reflecting river transport, commerce and rural architecture from the 1830s into the early twentieth century. About 1,440 acres are included.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues Clear Run is the only surviving former riverboat landing on the Black River, tied to the riverboat era of 1870-1914. It is associated with Amos J. Johnson, the area's leading merchant and industrialist, who owned and skippered the steamer A. J. Johnson. The buildings, especially the Marvin Johnson House with its decorative tongue-and-groove sheathing, reflect local architecture from the 1830s to the early 20th century, and the site may yield information on farming, commerce, industry and transportation.
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 86000548, listed March 17, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NC 411 at Black River, Clear Run |
|---|---|
| County | Sampson County |
| Listed | March 17, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000548 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca 1870 - 1930s |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (the Marvin Johnson House was built by carpenter James L. Cooper of Red Springs; the steamer A. J. Johnson was built by John B. Robinson) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Agriculture, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Mixed: several houses are occupied, the Herring House is being renovated, the stores are vacant and the cotton gin is abandoned. The grocery closed in 1967. |
| Acreage | 1440 |
| Coordinates | 34.74940, -78.27110 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 86000548.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19986574
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.