Haughton-McIver House
Why it's listed
Near the community of Gulf in Chatham County, this house began as a plain Greek Revival building put up before 1853. It has square proportions, a low hipped roof, six-over-six windows and paneled double doors framed by sidelights. Deeds from the 1850s and 1871 describe it as a hotel, which supports a family tradition that it housed travelers on the Gulf and Graham Plank Road. In 1871 it passed to John M. McIver, a former teacher who became one of the county's wealthiest businessmen, running a large general store and the first modern roller mill in the county. About 1890 he remodeled the house with an unknown architect, adding an exuberant two-story porch and a projecting bay in Queen Anne style. Outbuildings include a board-and-batten kitchen, a lattice well kiosk and a dairy and smokehouse. The house was listed for its plank road connection, its link to McIver and its mix of two architectural styles.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house may have served as a hotel on the Gulf and Graham Plank Road, tying it to the plank road era of 1848-1860. It is also linked to John M. McIver, a leading Chatham County businessman and church leader. Its blend of Greek Revival and Queen Anne design is cited as architecturally significant.
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 85001455, 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 1007, Gulf |
|---|---|
| County | Chatham County |
| Listed | July 5, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001455 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1840s, ca. 1890 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown; the ca. 1890 remodeling was by an unknown architect who may have been from Greensboro |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Greek Revival with later Queen Anne additions |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant since 1978 and used only occasionally for family gatherings; condition listed as good, with the original kitchen (now a garage) in decaying condition. |
| Acreage | 7 |
| Coordinates | 35.55743, -79.28452 (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 85001455.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5682462
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.