The Norville House
In 2006, the Historic Shelby Foundation purchased the Norville House located at 201 Maple Street.
In 2006, the Historic Shelby Foundation purchased the Norville House located at 201 Maple Street. At the time, it was one of approximately twenty modest homes included in a foreclosure property portfolio, and the only one that still retained its original historic character. Despite the neighborhood’s challenges, the board committed to saving the home from unsympathetic renovation or demolition. The purchase price was just $5,000.
Following the acquisition, modest repairs and renovations were made, and the house was made available for rent. In the early years, divinity students from Gardner-Webb University lived there and provided outreach and ministry within the neighborhood. Later tenants rented the home at below-market rates, a practice that continued under successive boards. For many years, Jim Kunkle generously provided oversight and maintenance of the property. However, as time passed, limited investment and deferred maintenance led to significant deterioration.
The Norville House, located in a historic Shelby neighborhood, is a circa-1910 vernacular structure with Gothic Revival elements. It features a steep hipped roof with a prominent front gable and centered window, an asymmetrical front façade with two front doors (a design believed to accommodate shift workers), and a handsome front porch. Additional features include large original 2 over 2 double-hung windows on the north and south elevations, a rear porch (partially open and partially enclosed), and a remodeled kitchen and bathroom ell. Inside, the house retains many original details: central back-to-back fireplaces in the front rooms, 10-foot-high tongue-and-groove painted pine ceilings and walls, pine floors, simple mantels, and Victorian moldings and trim.
“The house is a simple five-room balloon frame, full of character despite its modest size... Its tall windows flood the rooms with light, and the double front doors—unusual for a house this size—hint at a time when working families needed practical solutions... With its deep porches, central fireplaces, and pine-paneled interiors, the Norville House still tells the story of early 20th-century working-class life in Shelby.”
After over a year of discussion and deliberation, the current board has determined that serving as a long-term landlord is no longer in the best interest of the Foundation. The decision has been made to sell the property with protective covenants in place to ensure its continued preservation. The Property Committee and board have carefully evaluated rehabilitation options. Board president David Stone prepared floor plans and cost estimates, while early rehabilitation efforts included volunteer workdays and an Eagle Scout Community Service Project focused on stabilization, cleanup, and clearing out the property. A final decision regarding next steps is expected in the coming months.
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Restoration Since 2023
The Norville House requires a complete rehabilitation, including: roof replacement, HVAC system installation, plumbing and electrical upgrades, kitchen and bathroom renovations, winterization and energy-efficiency improvements, foundation and structural repairs, carpentry, painting, and landscape drainage work.
The Foundation is fortunate to have a board of deeply skilled and passionate members committed to historic preservation in Cleveland County. Current board president David Stone—owner of Foothills Construction, a company specializing in historic restoration—has stepped in as head contractor to ensure all improvements to the Norville House are undertaken with care and integrity. Longstanding board member and landscape architect Fred Blackley has completed a full renovation of the grounds, incorporating several environmentally conscious and sustainable upgrades.
The Foundation is elated to approach the completion of this multi-year project—one that has been close to our hearts since 2006. The connection runs deep: Brett Morgan, the Eagle Scout who led the early community service project, is the great-grandson of Mr. Norville himself. His contribution reminds us of the enduring value of preservation, family legacy, and honoring our shared history.
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