William E. Smith House
Listed as “Smith, William E., House” · Also known as The French Country Inn
Many listed buildings are private homes. Please enjoy them from the street.
About William E. Smith House
William E. Smith House, at 309 W. Railroad St., was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Jun 24, 1982: the first place in Selma to be listed. Only 825 of North Carolina’s 3,076 listings are older. The Register lists it for its architecture, at the local level. It describes its style as Neo-Classical, as it does for 25 other North Carolina listings. It was listed as part of Selma, North Carolina MRA.
What it isHistoric house in North Carolina, United States. From Wikidata (CC0). Read about it on Wikipedia ↗
PDFRead the original nominationThe form that put it on the Register, with its history, photos and a map · 7 MB · National Archives↗1912 to today
- 1912Built
- 1982Added to the National Register of Historic Places
- 2026On the Register for 44 years
Make it a walk: 5 landmarks in about 25 minutes
309 W. Railroad St., Selma · about 0.9 miles on foot, as the crow flies
3 more Register listings within 2 miles
★ National Historic Landmark · D district · B building · S site. Each opens its own page.
Neo-Classical style, nearby
Other National Register listings within 25 miles described as Neo-Classical.
Memories of William E. Smith House
The record says what it is. Neighbors know what it means.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Questions about William E. Smith House
Is William E. Smith House on the National Register of Historic Places?
Yes. It was added on Jun 24, 1982 (Register number 82003480).
Is William E. Smith House a National Historic Landmark?
No. It is on the National Register; North Carolina has 36 National Historic Landmarks. The nearest is Bentonville Battleground State Historic Site, 16 miles away.
Can you visit William E. Smith House?
Our record doesn’t say whether it is open to visitors. Many listed buildings are private, so it may only be seen from the street.
Where can I read the history of William E. Smith House?
In its National Register nomination, the form that put it on the Register: a 7 MB PDF at the National Archives, linked on this page.
Sources: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places (05/22/2026) · National Archives catalog record 47718111 · Wikidata. Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.