Morrison, Robert Harvey, Farm and Pioneer Mills Gold Mine
Also known as: Cedarvale
Why it's listed
Cedarvale, the Robert Harvey Morrison Farm near Midland in Cabarrus County, is a 27.7-acre property combining a restored antebellum plantation house with the remains of a gold mine. The two-story, weatherboarded Greek Revival house has a central hall plan, a porch across the front, and nine-over-nine windows. It was probably built after Morrison inherited the land in 1846. It is among the best preserved of thirty-five Greek Revival houses in the county. Nearby are a c.1846 log smokehouse and a two-story double-pen log barn, along with later farm buildings. About 600 feet southwest lie the Pioneer Mills Gold Mine shaft site, an ore mill mound, and a ruined miner's cabin. Mining began around 1832 and apparently ended by about 1860, and the shaft reached a depth of 147 feet. The property was recognized for its architecture and for the archaeological potential of the mine remains, which could show how small antebellum gold mines operated.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the carefully restored Greek Revival house and early outbuildings, including a rare two-story double-pen log barn, are architecturally important in Cabarrus County. The mine shaft, ore mill site and miner's cabin ruin could yield evidence about low-technology antebellum gold mining in North Carolina.
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 90001952, listed December 31, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 730 Morrison Rd., Midland |
|---|---|
| County | Cabarrus County |
| Listed | December 31, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001952 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | c. 1832 - c. 1860; c. 1900 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (house built by Robert Harvey Morrison) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is described as in superb condition after restoration; the mine shaft is filled in and the miner's cabin is a ruin after Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Current functions include single dwelling and agricultural storage. |
| Acreage | 27.7 |
| Coordinates | 35.26220, -80.58660 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 90001952.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18154663
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.