Chase-Coletta House
Also known as: Lillie Ray Chase House
Why it's listed
Standing on the southeast corner of Burnsville's Town Square, between the county courthouse and the Nu-Wray Inn, this one-and-one-half story Craftsman bungalow was completed in 1915 for Lillie Ray Chase, a widow who returned to Burnsville with four children after her husband's death. She hired a firm from Johnson City, Tennessee, to design and build it, and the brick was brought from that city. A front gable roof, triangular purlin brackets, a wraparound porch with blocky paired posts and a screened sleeping porch mark its style. Inside, oak flooring, dark woodwork, built-in cabinetry and a grid-beamed dining room ceiling survive. A ca. 1925 shed that once housed the family's milk cow also remains. The house is the last private residence on the square, and its quality of design, workmanship and preservation set it apart from the plainer bungalows found elsewhere in Yancey County. Its architecture is the basis for its listing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an exceptional example of a Craftsman bungalow in Burnsville under Criterion C for architecture. It has a prominent gable roof, triangular purlin brackets, a sleeping porch, a wraparound porch and fine interior woodwork, and it keeps a high degree of integrity. It stands out from the plainer vernacular bungalows common in the county, and it is the only remaining private residence on the town square.
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 04000605, listed June 16, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 108 Town Sq., Burnsville |
|---|---|
| County | Yancey County |
| Listed | June 16, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000605 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914-15 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single-dwelling residence; the shed is used for storage. The house is described as highly intact, with original weatherboards restored on the north and west sides in 2002. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 35.91665, -82.29879 (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 04000605.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20708583
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.