Hardscrabble
Why it's listed
Hardscrabble, southwest of Bahama in Durham County, combines two houses under one roof. The front house is Georgian and was probably built by William and Elizabeth Clenny before 1779, when they sold the land to James Cain and his son John. The rear house is Federal and was probably built in the 1790s, possibly by Samuel Hopkins for a Mr. Cain. Both are weatherboarded, two-story buildings with large chimneys in decorative brickwork, paneled wainscots and distinct mantels. The Georgian parlor has a wide arched fireplace and a paneled overmantel, while the Federal rooms hold individualized vernacular mantels, including one with spiral-fluted colonnettes. A common cross-gable roof joined the houses in the late nineteenth century, around 1888. The Cain family, large landowners near Hillsborough, held the plantation for over 120 years, and the name Hardscrabble reflects hard conditions after the Civil War. The pair offers a direct comparison of two building periods.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the property is architecturally notable because two nearly intact houses of different styles, built about twenty years apart, were later covered by one cross-gable roof. Together they show how North Carolina architecture changed in the late eighteenth century. It was also the country seat of the prominent Cain family for more than 120 years.
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 72000960, listed January 20, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N side of SR 1002, 1.2 mi. W of jct. with SR 1003, Bahama |
|---|---|
| County | Durham County |
| Listed | January 20, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000960 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th and 19th centuries |
| Architect / builder | William and Elizabeth Clenny (front house, probably); Samuel Hopkins (probably the rear house, built for Mr. Cain) |
| Architectural style | Georgian and Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered; occupied and used as a private residence, in the care of tenants. |
| Acreage | 8 |
| Coordinates | 36.13375, -78.95973 (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 72000960.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19462180
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.