Strange, Robert, Country House
Also known as: Myrtle Hill
Why it's listed
Built around 1825 on the Cape Fear River just north of Fayetteville, this one-and-one-half-story frame house was the center of Myrtle Hill, a tract of nearly 500 acres assembled by Robert Strange. Strange was a lawyer, Superior Court judge, member of the House of Commons and U.S. senator, and he wrote Eoneguski, or The Cherokee Chief (1839), the first novel about North Carolina. The house follows a four-room plan around a central stair hall and rests on a cut sandstone block foundation enclosing a raised basement. Five bays, three gable dormers, interior chimneys, Federal mantels and a Greek Revival-style front door reflect the shift in local building between about 1825 and 1835. A spring house, a later summer kitchen and the Strange family cemetery remain nearby. The Strange family held the property until 1944, when the tract had been divided for residential development and the house and its lot were sold. It was listed for its association with Strange and as one of few surviving early Fayetteville buildings.
Significance in brief: The house is a fine local example of Federal architecture, distinguished by a four-room plan with central stair hall, interior back-slope chimneys and a cut sandstone block foundation. It is also tied to Robert Strange, a lawyer, judge, state legislator, U.S. senator and author of the first novel about North Carolina, who influenced the development of early Fayetteville.
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 83001871, listed July 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 309 Kirkland Dr., Fayetteville |
|---|---|
| County | Cumberland County |
| Listed | July 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001871 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Federal (with transitional Greek Revival door treatment) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Literature, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well-maintained and in good condition; the surrounding area has changed greatly through residential development. |
| Acreage | 5.5 |
| Coordinates | 35.09176, -78.87423 (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 83001871.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18217439
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.