Sunny Side
Why it's listed
Built in 1871 on the south side of Bellemont-Alamance Road, about six miles southwest of Graham, Sunny Side is a two-story T-shaped frame house finished in the Italianate style with Gothic Revival touches. Its wide bracketed eaves, bay window, sawn porch millwork and original golden pine entrance door survive largely unaltered. Massive stuccoed brick chimneys with corbelled and crenellated tops and lancet-arch panels give the exterior its Gothic character. The house was built for Lawrence S. Holt, a member of the Holt family that dominated Alamance County textile manufacturing from the 1840s into the 1920s. Holt also co-founded the Commercial National Bank in Charlotte in 1874 and helped fund Episcopal churches in Burlington. The house is regarded as one of the finest surviving examples of its style in the county. Interior features include walnut stair balusters, heart pine floors, etched glass transoms and an Eastlake-inspired overmantel in the parlor.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the finest surviving Italianate houses in Alamance County, with extensive original decorative woodwork, stuccoed brick chimneys, and etched glass. It is also associated with Lawrence S. Holt, a prominent textile mill owner, banker and philanthropist, and is described as the only surviving residence built for him.
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 87000457, listed March 23, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NC 1136, 3 mi. E of jct. with NC 62, Burlington |
|---|---|
| County | Alamance County |
| Listed | March 23, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000457 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1871-1900 |
| Architectural style | Italianate with Gothic Revival features |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in the early 1970s by the Hix family and occupied by a resident owner. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 36.02049, -79.48226 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 87000457.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17560902
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.