Finley, Thomas B., Law Office
Also known as: J.F. Jordan Law Office
Why it's listed
Across the street from the Wilkes County courthouse square in Wilkesboro, a tiny frame law office has served attorneys for roughly a century. Probably built in the early 1880s, possibly by lawyer Isaac Wellborn, it is one room wide and two deep, with weatherboard siding, a standing seam metal gable roof, a central chimney and a small front porch. Sawnwork bargeboards with teardrop shapes and finials on both gables give it a Carpenter Gothic appearance. Inside, flush board walls and a late Greek Revival mantel survive. The building is tied to Thomas B. Finley, who began practicing in Wilkesboro in 1885, helped found banks and businesses, and later became a Superior Court judge. Herbert L. Greene, Frank B. Hendren and J. Floyd Jordan also worked there, each active in civic life. It was listed as a well-preserved example of a 19th century law office and for its link to the local legal profession.
Significance in brief: For about a century the office was used by a succession of prominent local lawyers who were also active in business, politics, education and religion. It is a well-preserved late 19th century Carpenter Gothic-influenced law office, one of only two such offices remaining in Wilkesboro.
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 82003525, listed August 24, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Broad and North Sts., Wilkesboro |
|---|---|
| County | Wilkes County |
| Listed | August 24, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003525 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Law, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition; a lawyer was still practicing in the office in 1980. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Downtown Wilkesboro Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.14909, -81.15098 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 82003525.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20708478
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.