Magnolia Place
Why it's listed
Magnolia Place is a large brick mansion near Morganton whose unusual shape comes from joining two houses of different eras under one roof. About 1818, John Henry Stevelie, a Swiss-born merchant and former state senator, built the eastern Federal block, a two-story, five-bay house of Flemish bond brick. In 1847 Thomas George Walton sold the property to his son-in-law Clarke Moulton Avery, who soon enlarged the house to more than twice its size with a Greek Revival section. A common gable roof and a full-height porch with three large fluted Doric columns turned the L-shaped plan into a temple form. Inside, Federal mantels with sunbursts and Asher Benjamin-style mantels survive. Avery later commanded the Burke Rifles in the Civil War and was mortally wounded in 1864. The house is valued as part of the Catawba River valley's group of antebellum mansions and for its link to the Avery and Walton families.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an impressive Greek Revival temple-form residence that unusually incorporates an earlier Federal structure. It is one of an important group of antebellum mansions in the Catawba River valley. It also has local historical significance through its connection with the Avery and Walton families.
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 73001297, listed June 4, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S of Morganton on U.S. 64, Morganton |
|---|---|
| County | Burke County |
| Listed | June 4, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001297 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | John Henry Stevelie (Federal section); Clarke Moulton Avery (Greek Revival section) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival temple form incorporating an earlier Federal house |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, altered, on its original site, and occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 9.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.71801, -81.69357 (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 73001297.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18153976
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.