Center Arbor
Why it's listed
Center Arbor is an open-air, timber-framed worship shelter in the Center community of Davie County, North Carolina. Local residents built it in 1876 for camp meetings, using logs cut from a nearby farm. It measures about sixty by eighty feet and has tree-trunk posts, hewn beams, a sawdust-covered dirt floor, plain wooden pews and a raised pulpit platform under a broad gable roof. Most surviving arbors have hipped roofs, so the gable form is unusual. It is the only arbor of its type left in Davie County. After the camp meetings ended, it hosted Christian Harmony Singings, annual homecoming services, revivals and the Center Fair, which was a forerunner of the county fair. Changes have been few: a metal roof in 1923, electricity around 1925, and new gable siding and rear windows in 1941. It was listed for its architecture and for its role in the religious and social life of the community.
Significance in brief: It is the only surviving camp meeting arbor in Davie County and an excellent, well-preserved example of the nineteenth-century religious arbors of rural Piedmont North Carolina. It is also tied to the area's religious and social history, first as a site of camp meeting revivals and later as the setting for singings, homecomings, fairs and other community events.
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 91001168, listed September 3, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of US 64 and NC 1150, NW corner, Center |
|---|---|
| County | Davie County |
| Listed | September 3, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001168 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1876-1941 |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Well maintained and still used occasionally for services and community events, though annual camp meetings are no longer held. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 35.91192, -80.62042 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 91001168.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18344940
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.