Herring, Robert, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1916 at 216 Sampson Street in Clinton, this two-story frame house was constructed for Robert E. Herring (1864-1929), a prominent merchant and lumber dealer. A Mr. Williamson was the builder. The house is Classical Revival in style, with a slate hip roof, a central two-story pedimented portico carried on paired fluted Corinthian columns, and a curving one-story porch with Ionic capitals. Inside, a wide central hall holds a grand staircase that splits into twin flights, and the first floor has heart pine floors with inset mahogany strips, beamed ceilings and Colonial Revival mantels. Herring borrowed the plans from his first cousin Troy Herring, whose 1912 house in Roseboro is the only other surviving Classical Revival house of this type in the county. The house reflects Clinton's prosperity in the 1910s, when the town's population doubled and new neighborhoods developed. It was restored in 1977 and has been well maintained.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the largest and showiest Classical Revival houses in Sampson County and one of only two surviving in the county, the other being Troy Herring's 1912 house in Roseboro. It reflects Clinton's rapid growth in the 1910s and was the home of prominent merchant and lumber dealer Robert E. Herring. Its interior woodwork, staircase and inlaid floors are of notably high quality.
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 86000557, listed March 17, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 216 Sampson St., Clinton |
|---|---|
| County | Sampson County |
| Listed | March 17, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000557 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Mr. Williamson |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Well maintained since construction; restored in 1977 and used as a residence and beauty shop. Retains a frame workshop; the stable was razed about 1962. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 35.00092, -78.32453 (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 86000557.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19868164
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.