Sledge-Hayley House
Why it's listed
Built between 1852 and 1855 for Warrenton merchant George R. Sledge, this two-story frame house sits on a raised brick basement at the edge of town, just outside the Warrenton Historic District. Its shallow hip roof, columned entrance porch, second-level door opening to a porch gallery and plain, strong woodwork reflect the Greek Revival houses of the town's antebellum boom. The plan is unusual: a small entry hall, a front room reached only through a rear room, and a single central chimney heating the two large rear rooms. Much original fabric survives, including marbleized baseboards and mantels. In 1901 the house was bought by Nancy S. Hayley, wife of Paul F. Hayley, who was born a slave, became a teacher and railway mail clerk, and was a leading black citizen. Later his son-in-law, Dr. Thomas W. Haywood, the county's only black doctor for over fifty years, lived here. The house is in disrepair, though intact.
Significance in brief: The house is a largely intact example of Warrenton's antebellum Greek Revival architecture, with a columned porch, second-level gallery entrance and simple woodwork, but with an unusual plan arranged around a central chimney. It is also associated with merchant George R. Sledge and with Paul F. Hayley, a former slave who became a teacher and civil servant and a prominent figure in Warrenton's black community.
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 80002904, listed April 17, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Frankin and Hayley Sts., Warrenton |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | April 17, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002904 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Little altered but in some disrepair; the owner's family seeks to rehabilitate it and has made efforts at stabilization. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.39779, -78.16003 (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 80002904.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23073822
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.