Felts, Gordon C., House
Also known as: 113-5002
Why it's listed
Completed in 1930 on a one-and-a-half-acre lot at 404 North Main Street in Galax, this large Spanish Revival house was built for Gordon and Alice Felts, with funding from his father, Thomas L. Felts, head of the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency. The Bluefield, West Virginia firm of Garry and Sheffey designed it with stucco-covered brick walls, an S-shaped terra cotta tile roof, steel casement windows, painted ceramic tile accents, a bluestone terrace with a pergola on Doric columns, and an enclosed sleeping porch. Inside, walnut trim, false beams and a tile galleon mosaic over the living room fireplace survive. A garage with staff apartment and a child-sized playhouse moved from the family's earlier estate also contribute. The house cost $80,000 at a time when local median income was about $6,000. It is valued as work of a talented architectural firm and as a rare example of Spanish Revival design in Southwestern Virginia.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be significant under Criterion C as a remarkable example of the work of the architectural firm Garry and Sheffey. It is also an example of the Spanish Revival style, which was rarely used in mountainous Southwestern Virginia. Its original client, Thomas L. Felts, head of the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency, and its very high cost for Galax add local interest.
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 01001572, listed February 5, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 404 N. Main St., Galax (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Galax |
| Listed | February 5, 2002 |
| Reference number | 01001572 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1930-1949 |
| Architect / builder | Martin F. Garry, AIA; Alexander Joseph Sheffey, AIA (Garry and Sheffey) |
| Architectural style | Spanish Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; a 1980s medical office addition is attached to the garage, and the form describes the house's integrity as remarkably intact. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 36.66503, -80.92819 (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 01001572.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712380
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.