Breese, William, Jr., House
Also known as: Colonial Inn
Why it's listed
Built around 1902 on Main Street in Brevard, this two-story frame house is finished in pebbledash stucco and has brick quoining at its corners. Its hipped slate roof, two-story Ionic portico and paired interior chimneys give it a formal Neo-Classical Revival character. Inside, the stair hall has paneled wainscoting and a Louis XVI style mantelpiece, and the original dining room is also paneled. The house was associated with William Breese, Jr., a lawyer who served as mayor of Brevard and held a range of public offices, including chairman of the board for Western Carolina Teacher's College from 1933 until his death. His family owned the house for many years, and it later operated as an inn and restaurant known as the Colonial Inn. The nomination values it for its architecture and for its link to Breese's public career.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of Brevard's finest turn-of-the-century buildings, combining Neo-Classical Revival design with locally popular pebbledash construction. It also cites its association with William Breese, Jr., a lawyer, mayor and state senate candidate who held a range of public offices in Brevard and western 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 83001920, listed June 23, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 401 E. Main St., Brevard |
|---|---|
| County | Transylvania County |
| Listed | June 23, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001920 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1901 |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operated as the Colonial Inn, a restaurant and inn, with changes including enlarged doorways, an enclosed porch and a removed second-floor wall. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | East Main Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.23277, -82.73151 (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 83001920.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19986543
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.