Alston-DeGraffenried House
Also known as: See Also:Alston--DeGraffenried Plantation (Boundary Increase
Why it's listed
Set among large trees and approached by a walk lined with boxwoods, this two-story frame plantation house stands on the north side of U.S. 64 west of Pittsboro. It rises on a raised brick basement beneath a tall hip roof, with a five-bay front, exterior end chimneys and a later Victorian porch. Evidence suggests it began as a smaller gable-roofed hall-and-parlor house, perhaps built around 1810, then was enlarged about 1822, the year John Jones Alston married. The interior follows an off-center-hall plan. Most rooms have simple Federal finish, but the large east parlor has a three-part mantel with sunburst ornament and a ceiling medallion of acanthus and foliate motifs. Outbuildings behind the house include a one-story kitchen with a massive stone chimney. The house is notable as a local interpretation of a sophisticated house type, combining South Carolina-style form with Piedmont restraint. Later it passed to the DeGraffenried family through Alston's daughter Delia.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an unusual vernacular version of a high-style house type. Its five-bay form, raised basement, tall hip roof and off-center-hall plan recall sophisticated Georgian houses of the east and South Carolina. Most of the finish is simple and typical of the Piedmont, but the east parlor has elaborate Adamesque woodwork and plaster.
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 74001339, listed November 18, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Pittsboro off U.S. 64, Pittsboro |
|---|---|
| County | Chatham County |
| Listed | November 18, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001339 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1810-1825 |
| Architectural style | Federal / Georgian-influenced vernacular (Adamesque parlor) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered, on its original site; used as a private residence at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 25 |
| Within district | Alston-DeGraffenried Plantation (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 35.73106, -79.24370 (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 74001339.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4735858
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.