450 East Sprague Street, “Hillcrest,” Samuel Jacob Nissen and Dora Clodfelter House, 1912

Samuel Jacob Nissen (1859-1943) was the son of John Phillip Nissen (founder of Nissen Wagon Works ) and Mary Vawter. Samuel Nissen founded his own wagon works in 1898, manufacturing spring wagons; and built an impressive building at Third and Patterson in downtown Winston that operated until 1927. (The S. J. Nissen Building is both individually listed to the National Register and a Local Historic Landmark.) He and his wife, Dora Clodfelter (1861-1939), moved from Waughtown to East First Street in Winston before buying this lot and commissioning a Queen Anne style home. After Dora’s death, the family converted the residence into four apartments with Samuel occupying one until his death in 1943.

A projecting pedimented bay dominates the asymmetrical facade, and a pediment surmounts the entrance to the wraparound porch which is supported by Tuscan columns with a turned balustrade. The two-story hipped-roof Queen Anne features one-over-one windows; a double-leaf entrance with sidelights and transom; weatherboard cladding; sawn brackets on bay eaves; and a Palladian-style attic window. 1925 CD: Samuel and Dora Nissen (W), S. J. Nissen Company; 1935 CD: ditto; 1945 CD: Rooming House: Hubert and Wanna Tilley (W), occupant, employed at R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company; Kate Mullis Graham (W), occupant, a welder at Palmer Bee; and Mrs. Hazel Jones, occupant, employed at R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company; 1954 CD: Nissen Apartments: four tenants.