Bullock-Dew House
Why it's listed
Built around 1902 for farmer Washington Plummer Bullock, this two-story farmhouse sits on a rise on the north side of SR 1131 near Sims, overlooking surrounding farm land. Its design draws on the Queen Anne style, with asymmetrical massing, multiple cross gables, a hipped slate roof with crockets, and wraparound porches that show Japanese-influenced latticework and sawnwork. Stained glass edges the upper window sashes and the double front doors. Inside, a central hall plan survives with carved woodwork, reeded door and window surrounds with rondels, and ornamented mantels. Local tradition holds that Bullock set out to build the best house in Wilson County. The architect and contractor are unknown. Bullock mortgaged the property heavily and sold it in 1916 to W. R. Dew. The house was neglected before a 1979 purchase led to renovation. Farm buildings, including tobacco barns and a packhouse, remain. It is considered the county's finest rural example of the style.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the finest and most elaborate Queen Anne-inspired farmhouse in Wilson County. Its sawnwork, turned detail and stained glass rival the best turn-of-the-century town houses in the county seat. It remains largely intact and is still the center of a working farm.
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 86000759, listed February 13, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NC 581, Sims |
|---|---|
| County | Wilson County |
| Listed | February 13, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000759 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1902 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence and still the seat of a farming operation; renovated by its current owners from 1979 after years of neglect. |
| Acreage | 31.7 |
| Coordinates | 35.74210, -78.11255 (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 86000759.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20708972
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.