Maxwell House
Why it's listed
Near Stedman in eastern Cumberland County, this farmhouse was built in two stages. The earlier part is a one-story log coastal cottage dating from roughly 1790 to 1815, with a single room dominated by a Georgian mantel with a segmental arch, paneled frieze and gougework trim. About 1845 a five-bay, two-story Federal/Greek Revival house with a central hall was added against it. A former slave house was later moved against the rear to serve as a kitchen and dining room. Outbuildings include a rare dairy raised on tall legs and a small slave kitchen. The property was bought in 1806 by Thomas Maxwell, Jr., and passed to his son Daniel and then to Daniel's son Alexander, who probably enlarged it. Members of the Highland Scot Maxwell family have lived there for over 150 years as farmers, cattlemen and community leaders. The house is valued as a typical large antebellum farmhouse and as possibly the county's earliest surviving log structure.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house reflects the settlement of Highland Scots in Cumberland County and the long tenure of the Maxwell family as farmers and civic leaders. It also shows the shift from a one-room log coastal cottage to a larger two-story center-hall dwelling. The log section is possibly the earliest surviving log structure in the county.
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 85000380, listed February 28, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Off NC 24, Stedman |
|---|---|
| County | Cumberland County |
| Listed | February 28, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000380 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Georgian interior woodwork in a coastal cottage log section; transitional Federal/Greek Revival two-story section |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition, unaltered, on its original site, and occupied as a private residence by a Maxwell descendant; still associated with farmland. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 35.02176, -78.72284 (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 85000380.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18217052
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.