Franklin, Bernard, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1799 for Bernard Franklin, this two-story frame house sits on a slight knoll facing south over the Fisher River bottom near Dobson. Five bays wide on a stone foundation, it has a shed porch with chamfered posts, nine-over-nine sash windows, and brick double-shoulder chimneys laid in Flemish bond. Its plan follows a Quaker pattern with a large main room and two small rooms. Inside, a raised-panel wainscot, a Federal stair and mantels blending Georgian and Federal styles survive, many finished with marbleizing and wood graining. The house is considered the most ambitious early dwelling in Surry County. It is also linked to Jesse Franklin, Bernard's son, who chose the land and later served in Congress, the U.S. Senate and as North Carolina's twentieth governor. His own house burned, leaving this one as the visible reminder of him. The Surry County Historical Society acquired it in 1972 and plans restoration.
Significance in brief: The house is described as a handsome Georgian-Federal dwelling that keeps a remarkable amount of original fabric, including paneling, marbleizing and wood graining, and as by far the most ambitious early house in Surry County. It is also the only surviving reminder of Jesse Franklin, the builder's son, a U.S. senator and twentieth governor of North Carolina.
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 73001369, listed April 24, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NW of Dobson on SR 1331, Dobson |
|---|---|
| County | Surry County |
| Listed | April 24, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001369 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Bernard Franklin (builder/owner) |
| Architectural style | Georgian-Federal |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in fair condition, altered, on its original site, and unoccupied. The Surry County Historical Society bought it in 1972, and restoration is planned. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 36.45679, -80.82008 (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 73001369.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5346083
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.