LaGrange
Also known as: Robards-Royster House
Why it's listed
Set on a stone foundation among soybean and tobacco fields in rural Vance County, North Carolina, this frame house was begun about 1830 by William Robards, a Granville County planter and state treasurer, and enlarged around 1850 by his son-in-law Stephen Sampson Royster. The two-story front section has simple Greek Revival character with Italianate brackets, a center-hall plan, and marbleized baseboards in gray, black and cream. The house is regarded as representative of the substantial vernacular architecture built for successful eastern North Carolina planters. Its significance rests on its links to antebellum plantation life and to the post-Civil War farm economy, and on its association with the Robards and Royster families, whose members included planters and physicians. The property retains a family cemetery with stones from the first half of the nineteenth century, along with outbuildings and tobacco pack houses. Archaeological remains are considered likely but have not been investigated.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as representative of antebellum plantation life and the post-Civil War farm economy of the region. Its simple Greek Revival interior, with marbleized trim, is described as notable. It is linked to William Robards, a Granville County planter and state treasurer, and to the Royster family, whose members included planters and physicians.
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 82003519, listed April 27, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of Townsville off SR 1308, Harris Crossroads |
|---|---|
| County | Vance County |
| Listed | April 27, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003519 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival with Italianate brackets |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as still in good repair. |
| Acreage | 131.7 |
| Coordinates | 36.40461, -78.41121 (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 82003519.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6460742
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.