Elmwood
Also known as: Watson-Mardre House
Why it's listed
Elmwood is a two-story frame plantation house in the countryside west of Windsor, set back from an unpaved road in a yard of old elms. The oldest part, a side-hall plan house with simple Federal trim, was probably built by planter and Justice of the Peace John Watson, Jr., before his death in 1836. His son Thomas C. Watson added a Greek Revival section, creating a center-hall plan two rooms deep. Census records show Thomas Watson as a planter of moderate means who grew corn and a large cotton crop by county standards. George L. Mardre bought the plantation in 1863, and the Mardre family lived there until about 1909. The house then served as a tenant dwelling until restoration began in 1977. The kitchen and dairy survive behind the house, and the property remains the center of a 700-acre farm. It was listed as a representative example of the substantial but modestly detailed plantation home that housed most southern planter families.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Elmwood is an intact example of a moderate-sized antebellum plantation home in eastern North Carolina, with simple vernacular Federal and Greek Revival trim. It reflects the needs and tastes of a prosperous agricultural family. It is also linked to the Watson and Mardre families, especially John Watson, Jr., a long-time Justice of the Peace, and may yield information on the plantation economy.
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 82003431, listed June 8, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Windsor on SR 1101, Windsor |
|---|---|
| County | Bertie County |
| Listed | June 8, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003431 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Federal and Greek Revival (vernacular) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Under restoration after many years as a tenant dwelling; condition marked excellent and the house is occupied as a private residence at the center of a 700-acre working farm. |
| Acreage | 15 |
| Coordinates | 36.00775, -76.97981 (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 82003431.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18149862
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.