Cedar Point
Also known as: Gwyn, Richard, House; Franklin, Richard Gwyn, House
Why it's listed
Cedar Point is a two-story frame I-house with a rear ell, set on a hill above the Yadkin River and Elkin Creek at 350 West Main Street in Elkin, North Carolina. Richard Gwyn built it around 1840 after buying nearly 1,700 acres on the river's north side. It is probably the oldest house in Elkin and one of only five buildings surviving from before 1880. Around 1870 his son Thomas Lenoir Gwyn added the present porches and probably the front gable and round-arched gable windows. Inside, the center-hall stair and eight classical mantels carry most of the decoration. The house was listed for its architecture as a plain vernacular I-house with Greek Revival and late classical details. It was also listed for its links to Richard Gwyn, known as Elkin's founding father, to his son Thomas Lenoir Gwyn, a mill founder and town commissioner, and to Richard Gwyn Franklin, who sold lots that became the Franklin Heights neighborhood. Family ownership lasted until 1975.
Significance in brief: It is probably the oldest house in Elkin and a good local example of a plain vernacular I-house with simple Greek Revival and late classical details. It is also tied to Richard Gwyn, Thomas Lenoir Gwyn and Richard Gwyn Franklin, who shaped Elkin's settlement and community development. The Gwyn and Franklin families owned it until 1975.
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 03000927, listed September 11, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 350 W. Main St., Elkin |
|---|---|
| County | Surry County |
| Listed | September 11, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000927 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1840 - 1930 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by Richard Gwyn) |
| Architectural style | Other: I-house; Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Maintained in excellent condition and well preserved, with a high degree of historic integrity; the form lists current use as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 36.24359, -80.85734 (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 03000927.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19945978
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.