Desserette
Why it's listed
Desserette is a turpentine plantation near White Oak in Bladen County, North Carolina, just east of the Cape Fear River. Its centerpiece is a two-story, five-bay frame house with a center-hall, double-pile plan, built in the 1840s in the Greek Revival style with late Federal touches inside. Original stained and grained woodwork survives in the hall and several rooms. The grounds also hold a detached kitchen, a meathouse, a double-crib log barn, a 1930s poultry house and a family cemetery. The house was built by John Smith, whose plantation covered 3,400 acres and which served as a post office from 1853. John Taylor Council, ruined by the Civil War, moved here in 1863 and rebuilt his fortune with turpentine, aided by his wife's inheritance. Council descendants have lived here since. The property was listed for its link to the postwar transformation of planter society and for its surviving interior decoration.
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) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | 1840s - 1887 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Greek Revival, with some late Federal detailing on the interior |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Agriculture, Architecture |
| Acreage | 125.7 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Desserette (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.