Greer House
Why it's listed
Dr. Thomas Bailey Greer began this two-story Greek Revival house in Rocky Mount in 1861. Work stopped during the Civil War and the house was finished soon after. Built of wood frame on a brick foundation, it has a low hipped metal roof, six-over-six windows with louvered blinds, and a north entrance with sidelights, a transom and a Doric-columned porch. Inside, wide pine floors, Doric mantels, dentiled cornices and an open-string stair survive. The original T-shaped plan was later filled in by three additions on the east side, the last in 1988. The house is listed for its architecture, as a good local example of late Greek Revival design that has seen only minor alteration during continuous occupancy. It also reflects the standing of Greer, a physician who served on Virginia's first State Medical Examining Board and came from a prominent county family. The house stayed in the Greer family until 1985.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a well-preserved example of late Greek Revival architecture that represents its era in a small rural community. It also has local historical significance through its builder and original owner, Dr. Thomas Bailey Greer, a prominent physician and member of the first Virginia Medical Examining Board from a leading Franklin County family.
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 90002011, listed December 28, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 206 E. Court St., Rocky Mount |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin (city and county) |
| Listed | December 28, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90002011 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1861-1922 |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Bailey Greer |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the form notes continuous inhabitation and a 1988 rear addition. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Within district | Rocky Mount Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.99492, -79.88565 (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 90002011.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712410
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.