Kerr-Patton House
Also known as: S. W. Patton House
Why it's listed
Set on a one-acre tract in the Hawfields community near Thompson, this two-story frame farmhouse began as a Federal-style dwelling built between about 1810 and 1820, possibly by Exum Elliott. Later additions include a one-story wing from the 1830s or about 1850, with stone chimneys, and a rear kitchen ell added after the Civil War. Inside, hall-and-parlor rooms retain wide-board poplar sheathing and finely detailed pine mantels. Samuel Kerr owned the property from 1820 until his death in 1852. He ran a 330-acre farm and also made wagons and barrels for the local market. Samuel Woods Patton later farmed here and operated a gristmill on Haw Creek from 1886 to 1908. A salt house, outhouse and well remain on the grounds. A sunken roadbed crossing the site follows an old stage road and an earlier Indian trading path, which gives the site archaeological interest.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be one of the area's best rural examples of Federal and Greek Revival design, with fine interior finishes and a shouldered brick chimney. It is tied to Samuel Kerr, a prosperous farmer and manufacturer of wagons and barrels who owned it from 1820 to 1852. A depression on the site marks part of the old Hillsborough-Salisbury Road and the earlier Great (Indian) Trading Path, which may hold archaeological information.
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) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85003083, listed December 5, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NC 2133, Thompson |
|---|---|
| County | Alamance County |
| Listed | December 5, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003083 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Samuel Kerr(?) |
| Architectural style | Federal, with Greek Revival and post-bellum Victorian additions |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Transportation, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Stable and in very good cosmetic condition; rehabilitation work, including foundation and chimney rebuilding in 1982-84, has been done and interior improvements are continuing. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 36.02702, -79.31301 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85003083.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17560862
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.