Thompson, Alfred and Martha Jane, House and Williams Barn
Why it's listed
Near New Hope in Wilson County, North Carolina, a one-story farmhouse and a large barn sit among agricultural fields close to Silver Lake. The house dates to about 1895 and is a center-hall, balloon-frame dwelling with weatherboard siding, a hipped roof, and engaged porches. Its paneled corner pilasters reflect Greek Revival influence, while wide eaves with paired sawn brackets reflect the Italianate style. A kitchen was added around 1930 and a small bathroom around 1970. Behind it stands a banked, gambrel-roof barn from about 1930 with a massive oak post-and-beam frame, now the only surviving outbuilding. The house is thought to have been built by Alfred Thompson, a large landholding farmer, as a later-life home for his second wife, Martha Jane. It later served as a tenant house. Both buildings were recognized for architecture: the house as a vernacular farmhouse of its era, and the barn as a well-preserved multi-purpose type. Both are currently vacant.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues both buildings are significant under Criterion C for architecture. The house is a classically-influenced vernacular farmhouse that combines Greek Revival and Italianate features. The barn is a well-preserved example of a multi-functional banked post-and-beam barn and is the only surviving outbuilding.
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 02000007, listed February 14, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NC 1314, 0.4 mi. W of NC 58, New Hope |
|---|---|
| County | Wilson County |
| Listed | February 14, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000007 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1895, c. 1930 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Other: classically-influenced (Greek Revival and Italianate features) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed under current function as vacant/not in use; the house is described as in good condition with little alteration, and the owners plan preventative and restorative work. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 35.81011, -77.95461 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 02000007.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24436323
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.