Lamb, James H., House
Why it's listed
Near Garland in western Sampson County, this farm centers on a large Greek Revival house built around 1835 by James H. Lamb, who bought the land that year. The weatherboarded main block is two and a half stories with a side hall plan, nine-over-nine and six-over-nine sash, original louvered shutters, and a pedimented north gable. A small one-room dwelling moved up from nearby creek land was incorporated into a wing. Lamb became one of the county's largest landowners, holding about 2,000 acres at his peak, and his plantation produced corn, cotton, sweet potatoes and turpentine. The house passed through his son, grandson and great-grandson, and the family still farms 475 acres. The property includes a mule barn, corn crib, dairy, smokehouse, tobacco barns and a family cemetery. It was listed as an early example of Greek Revival design in the county and as a representative large antebellum plantation. The house has been unoccupied for years, though a family member hopes to restore it.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the earliest rural houses in the county to show Greek Revival style and the only surviving early plantation house there with a side hall plan. It also links to the county's agricultural growth in the mid-19th century and to the prominent Lamb farming family. The outbuildings, including one of the few surviving mule barns, and the family cemetery add to its value.
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 86000566, listed March 17, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SR 1135 N of NC 411, Garland |
|---|---|
| County | Sampson County |
| Listed | March 17, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000566 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by James H. Lamb) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house has stood vacant for a number of years but is described as very sound; the surrounding farm is still actively operated by the family. |
| Acreage | 475 |
| Coordinates | 34.78715, -78.33848 (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 86000566.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19865085
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.