Aycock, Manalcus, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1900-01 on Center Street in Black Creek, this large two-story frame house was the most impressive turn-of-the-century residence in the town. Manalcus Aycock, son of a prominent farming family, had the lumber cut and milled on the family farm, and Claudius C. Rackley of Wilson served as contractor. The house has an asymmetrical form with cross-gable wings, three-sided bays, slate roofs and a wraparound porch with a conical-roofed pavilion, turned spindlework and sawnwork. Stained glass in the front door transom and sidelights is a rare find in a rural setting. Inside, a central hall and boldly Victorian finishes remain. The house reflects the prosperity that bright leaf tobacco brought to Wilson County after it replaced cotton as the main cash crop. It is valued for its size, design quality, preservation and links to the Aycock family and builder Rackley. A slate-roofed garage also stands on the lot.
Significance in brief: It is described as one of Wilson County's most ambitious turn-of-the-century residences built in a small town, with unusually high quality of design and workmanship. It reflects the wealth tobacco farming brought to the area and the tastes of the Aycock family. It is also tied to Rackley, one of the county's most prolific contractors.
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 86000765, listed February 13, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Center St., Black Creek |
|---|---|
| County | Wilson County |
| Listed | February 13, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000765 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900 |
| Architect / builder | C. C. Rackley (Claudius C. Rackley, contractor) |
| Architectural style | Victorian interior finish; asymmetrical, rambling frame house with cross gables and a wraparound porch |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Found occupied and well-maintained in a 1985 revisit; condition checked as excellent and used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.63487, -77.93368 (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 86000765.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20708597
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.