Johnson-Hubbard House
Why it's listed
Built between 1855 and 1857 for Stephen Johnson, a merchant and later county treasurer, this two-story frame house on East Main Street is among the few buildings in Wilkesboro that predate the Civil War. It has a center-hall plan, weatherboard siding, brick end chimneys stuccoed and penciled to imitate cut stone, and an entrance that blends Greek Revival and Gothic Revival motifs. Inside, flush-boarded walls and Greek Revival mantels and trim are complemented by painted marbling on mantels, baseboards, stair risers and two ceilings, where a lighted pine torch held to wet paint produced the effect. Johnson's niece Lula Hubbard and her husband Julius Cicero Hubbard bought the property in 1885 and added a one-story rear ell with a dining room and kitchen. The house stayed in the same family, and a fieldstone-based smokehouse survives from the original outbuildings. The marbling is regarded as a rare reminder of mid-nineteenth century decorative painting in the region.
Significance in brief: The house is one of only a few buildings remaining from Wilkesboro's pre-Civil War years. It is a vernacular example of Greek Revival style with Gothic Revival touches in the entrance. Its painted marbling on mantels, baseboards, stair risers and ceilings is described as rare for the area. It has stayed in the same family throughout its history.
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 82003527, listed August 24, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 113 E. Main St., Wilkesboro |
|---|---|
| County | Wilkes County |
| Listed | August 24, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003527 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by Stephen Johnson; ell added by Julius Cicero and Lula Hubbard) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (vernacular), with Gothic Revival influence in the entrance |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; the smokehouse is the only surviving outbuilding. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Downtown Wilkesboro Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.14837, -81.15076 (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 82003527.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23073906
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.