Deaver, William, House
Why it's listed
Near Pisgah Forest in Transylvania County, this two-story timber frame house was built around 1832 for William Deaver, a prosperous farmer whose estate once reached about 300 acres in a region of much smaller farms. Clad in weathered clapboards with a fieldstone foundation and a gable roof, it has a large central brick chimney and a double-gallery porch across the front. Inside, two rooms flank the chimney in saddlebag fashion, and much of the original wide sheathing, chair rail, doors, strap hinges and locks survives. The central chimney may reflect the family's Pennsylvania roots, while the porch recalls coastal Carolina practice. Local tradition holds that Deaver was shot at the door in 1865 by brigands seeking his Confederate officer son. Deaver descendants kept the house until the mid-twentieth century, and it once served as the Davidson River post office. A gambrel-roofed barn of about 1900 and a garden remain on the surviving 2.3 acres, which are surrounded by newer housing. The house is still a private residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is among the oldest surviving frame houses west of the Blue Ridge in North Carolina, and unusually large and well finished for its place and date. Its central chimney and double-gallery porch combine northern and coastal Carolina influences. It also retains much original interior fabric and represents a substantial early farm dwelling.
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 79001755, listed August 13, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of Pisgah Forest on NC 280, Pisgah Forest |
|---|---|
| County | Transylvania County |
| Listed | August 13, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001755 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Circa 1832 |
| Architectural style | Retardataire Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remains in use as a private residence; condition marked fair; occupied. |
| Acreage | 2.3 |
| Coordinates | 35.27620, -82.70187 (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 79001755.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20708429
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.