Smith, John Sterling, Jr., House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built about 1855 as a small L-shaped house and remodeled in 1910, this cedar clapboard residence on Chestnut Street in Chappell Hill reflects two eras of local building. The 1910 work produced an asymmetrical 1½-story plan with a wraparound porch on slightly tapered Doric columns, a tall hipped roof, and an octagonal turret with a tent roof. Inside are grained pine flooring, a carved mantelpiece and an open-well stairway with a scroll-carved newel. The house is considered the only surviving example of its form in the Chappell Hill area, showing how older central-hall or dog-trot houses were reshaped into a popular early twentieth-century type with vernacular Queen Anne detailing. It is also tied to John Sterling Smith, Jr., a merchant, bank president and cattle raiser whose success led to the enlargement. The property stayed in one family from 1873 to 1983, and the house has changed little since 1910.
Significance in brief: The house is the only surviving example of its form in the Chappell Hill multiple-resource area. It shows how local houses evolved from a central-hall or dog-trot plan into a popular turn-of-the-century form with Queen Anne detailing. It is also associated with John Sterling Smith, Jr., a prominent businessman, banker and cattle raiser. The form also notes potential for historic archeology.
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 85000349, listed February 20, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Chestnut St., Chappell Hill |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | February 20, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000349 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899; 1900- |
| Architectural style | Modified Queen Anne elements (vernacular treatment) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residence in fair physical condition; sold in 1983 and the new owner plans to restore it to its 1910 appearance. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 30.14325, -96.25362 (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 85000349.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002499
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.