Hickory in Catawba County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Espey-Nowell-Osborne House

ca. 1910

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, February 3, 2024

1. Espey-Nowell-Osborne House Marker

Inscription.
Oakwood Historic District
National Register of Historic Places

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.

Location. 35° 44.217′ N, 81° 20.83′ W. Marker is in Hickory, North Carolina, in Catawba County. It is on 6th Street Northwest north of 3rd Avenue Northwest (State Road 1314), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 342 6th St NW, Hickory NC 28601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are

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within walking distance of this marker: Alfred P. Whitener House (within shouting distance of this marker); Rector-Cline House (within shouting distance of this marker); William N. Cox House (within shouting distance of this marker); Michael L. Cline House (within shouting distance of this marker); Whitener-Hammersla House (within shouting distance of this marker); Espey D. Sherrill House (within shouting distance of this marker); Rev. J.C. Moser House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Murphy-Austin Houe (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hickory.

Regarding Espey-Nowell-Osborne House. Excerpts from the National Register nomination:

The Espey-Nowell house is an unusual one story, double pile, weatherboarded house built sometime between 1911 and 1915.…

James W. Espey purchased this lot from Luther Mosteller in 1911 and probably had this house built sometime soon after. Espey was a native of Cookston County, Tyrone, Ireland, and had served in the Boer war in South Africa. He arrived in New York in 1901 where he became an accountant in a firm which acquired Rhodhiss Manufacturing Company.
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, February 3, 2024

2. Espey-Nowell-Osborne House Marker
Transferred to Rhodhiss he moved to Hickory five years later where he was employed in the Hickory Tannery and Elliott Knitting Mills. Later he was the city clerk. Espey married Edna Anna Simpson of Buffalo, New York. The second long-time resident of the house was Dr. Stephen C. Nowell who owned it between the late 1920s and at least until 1950.

Also see . . . Oakwood Historic District (PDF). National Register nomination for the district, which was listed in 1986. (Prepared by Kirk F. Mohney; via North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office) (Submitted on February 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 154 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.