Bowen-Jordan Farm
Why it's listed
Set in an area of western Chatham County settled by Quakers, this farm centers on a large two-and-a-half story Federal style frame house, probably built around 1825. The house was reoriented over time: the present rear porch, with tapered posts and a fieldstone foundation, was originally the front. Inside, a wide central hall opens onto the rooms, an unusual variation of the Quaker plan, and the original wide flush board sheathing and Federal mantels survive. A one-and-a-half story detached kitchen, which family tradition calls a slave cabin, stands nearby with a Flemish bond chimney, along with a smokehouse and later farm buildings. The farm is linked to William Bowen, a farmer and merchant who died in 1856, and later to James Maloy Jordan, a Siler City banker and businessman who operated it from the 1870s. It was listed for its architecture, Quaker settlement history and these two men.
Significance in brief: The house has an unusual variation of the Quaker three-room plan, with a wide central hall into which the rooms open, reflecting the area's Quaker heritage. The farm is also tied to William Bowen, a wealthy farmer and merchant, and to James Maloy Jordan, a prominent Siler City businessman. It illustrates Quaker settlement and large-scale farming in Chatham County during the nineteenth century.
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 85001451, listed July 5, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SR 1100, Siler City |
|---|---|
| County | Chatham County |
| Listed | July 5, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001451 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Federal (described as Georgian-Federal in the criteria statement) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form marks the property as private, unoccupied and vacant. The house is described as retaining its original interior finish. |
| Acreage | 89 |
| Coordinates | 35.67941, -79.50736 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 85001451.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18148601
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.