Pope House
Why it's listed
Near Clinton in Sampson County, this weatherboarded, one-and-a-half-story farmhouse looks like an ordinary mid-to-late 19th-century dwelling from the road. Inside, the center-hall plan holds an elaborate late Federal interior, with tall mantels featuring molded panels, dentil bands and pierced carving, vertical paneled wainscot, and an unusual ten-panel door. The nomination calls this woodwork unmatched anywhere in the county. An 1846 date is scratched into a stuccoed end chimney, though the builder is unknown. Josiah Pope, who bought the land in 1859, lived here until his death in 1903, and a later owner, W. R. White, farmed the property. The 222-acre farm retains twelve contributing resources, including tenant houses, tobacco barns, a packhouse and a distinctive crib. Most are abandoned and deteriorating, and the house was vacant at the time of listing. It was recognized for its remarkable interior and as a typical self-sufficient family farm.
Significance in brief: Behind a plain, altered exterior, the house has what the nomination calls the most exuberant and sophisticated late Federal interior in Sampson County, with tall carved mantels, paneled wainscot and unusual doors. The farm is also considered likely to yield information on agricultural practices from the later 19th to mid-20th century, and it is typical of self-sufficient family farms of the area.
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 86000575, 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 1146 N of SR 1145, Clinton |
|---|---|
| County | Sampson County |
| Listed | March 17, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000575 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Late Federal (vernacular Federal interior) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | House described as vacant and neglected but with an intact interior; outbuildings abandoned and deteriorating; owner interested in selling for restoration. |
| Acreage | 222.2 |
| Coordinates | 34.91642, -78.30850 (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 86000575.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19885451
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.