Scott, Kerr, Farm
Also known as: Melville
Why it's listed
Kerr Scott Farm, also called Melville, is a dairy farm of roughly 243 acres near Haw River, North Carolina. Its centerpiece is a one-and-one-half-story frame farmhouse built in 1919 by W. Kerr Scott as an expansion of a log dwelling from about 1860, giving the house a T-shaped plan. Around it stand barns, silos, milking parlors, cow sheds and other outbuildings, most dating from the 1910s through the 1950s. The farm matters chiefly because of its owners. W. Kerr Scott lived here from 1919 until his death in 1958, serving as governor from 1949 to 1953 and as a U.S. Senator from 1954. His son Robert W. Scott, born in the house, later also became governor. Kerr Scott's modern dairy methods made the farm a showcase for progressive agriculture, and the house hosted many political and social gatherings. The farmhouse is also a representative example of early twentieth-century rural North Carolina housing.
Significance in brief: The farm was the home of Governor and U.S. Senator W. Kerr Scott (1896-1958) and the birthplace of his son, Governor Robert W. Scott; they are the only father and son governors elected by popular vote. It is argued to be tangible evidence of Kerr Scott's progressive dairy farming and agricultural philosophy. The farmhouse also has local architectural significance as a typical early 20th-century North Carolina farmhouse.
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 87001850, listed October 31, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N and S side of SR 2123, Haw River |
|---|---|
| County | Alamance County |
| Listed | October 31, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001850 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1919-1958 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular farmhouse |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a private residence and agricultural property; the dairy operation was sold to a family member in 1982. |
| Acreage | 243 |
| Coordinates | 36.06046, -79.35087 (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 87001850.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17560879
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.