Scarborough, Maj. James, House
Why it's listed
Set on a knoll amid magnolia, pine, oak and pecan trees, this two-story frame house in the Saratoga community of Wilson County was built about 1821 for Major James Scarborough. It is a late Federal style dwelling with a five-bay front, gable roof, weatherboard siding and Flemish bond chimneys at each end. Inside, the central hall plan, Federal staircase, six-panel doors, wainscoting and a sunburst mantel survive largely as built, and painted grain finishes remain on attic doors and second-floor trim. A kitchen wing was added at the rear in 1904, when the front porch was also enlarged. Scarborough, born in 1748, served in the Revolutionary War, became a major in the Edgecombe County militia and was a leading planter. His son Isaac served in the War of 1812. The property has never left the family, and the house is considered probably the most intact early nineteenth century dwelling in Wilson County.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that it is probably the best preserved early nineteenth century dwelling in Wilson County and one of the county's most outstanding Federal houses, notable for details such as its sunburst mantel. It is also tied to Major James Scarborough, a Revolutionary War veteran and leading planter, and to his son Isaac, a War of 1812 veteran. The house has been owned only by Scarborough and his descendants.
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 82003530, listed June 14, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NC 222, Saratoga |
|---|---|
| County | Wilson County |
| Listed | June 14, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003530 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (family tradition says local builder Jack Windham helped Major Scarborough construct the house) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; condition listed as excellent, altered, on its original site. |
| Acreage | 10.5 |
| Coordinates | 35.66327, -77.76707 (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 82003530.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24436321
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.