Mistletoe Villa
Why it's listed
Mistletoe Villa is a two-story frame mansion in Henderson, North Carolina, built between 1883 and 1885 for Colonel Ike Young. It rises on the stone cellar of an earlier Greek Revival house, and its Queen Anne form is enlivened by porches, balconies, wall dormers, patterned shingles, sawn ornament and colored glass. Inside, reeded and gilded woodwork and painted plaster ceilings give the principal rooms unusual richness. Surviving specifications describe an olive and maroon exterior color scheme, gas lighting, and indoor plumbing fed by a rainwater tank. Family tradition credits architect Samuel Sloan, known for the Executive Mansion in Raleigh, but searches found no documentary proof. Young, a Civil War veteran, former mayor and leader in creating Vance County, died in 1885 before he could live in the house. His heirs kept it for generations, and it was long regarded as a showplace of the town. It was listed for its architecture and its association with Young and Henderson's growth.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the grandest Victorian house in Henderson and one of the state's most notable Queen Anne examples, with an unusually sophisticated design and lavish interior. It is tied to Colonel Ike Young, a prominent Vance County citizen, and to Henderson's post-Civil War development. A family tradition links it to architect Samuel Sloan, but no documentation confirms this.
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 78001974, listed August 10, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Young Ave., Henderson |
|---|---|
| County | Vance County |
| Listed | August 10, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001974 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates 1883-1885) |
| Architect / builder | possibly Samuel Sloan |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied, in fair condition and altered; outbuildings include a stable, smokehouse, carbon gas house and garage. |
| Acreage | 3.5 |
| Within district | Henderson Central Business Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.32081, -78.40884 (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 78001974.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6880406
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.