Powe House
Why it's listed
Built in 1900 at 1503 W. Pettigrew Street in Durham, the Powe House is a two-story frame residence with a large hip-roofed core, pedimented wings, a wraparound porch with Ionic columns and a two-story central portico. Edward Knox Powe, general superintendent and later production manager at Erwin Cotton Mills in West Durham, built it for his family. It was one of several large homes erected by mill executives along this street, and it is the only one that survives virtually intact. Others were razed, covered in siding or left badly deteriorated. Powe was known for quietly paying school expenses for mill workers' children and for serving on health and school boards. The house is an early Neoclassical Revival design with Victorian detailing, slate roofing and seven fireplaces. Though its paint is poor and foliage hides it from view, it remains structurally sound. Its owner planned demolition, while a local citizen sought to move it for use as a school.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the only intact, structurally sound survivor of a group of imposing houses built by Erwin Cotton Mills executives around 1900. It is also tied to Edward Knox Powe, a mill manager known for his benevolence toward the mill workforce, and it is a distinctive example of early Neoclassical Revival architecture.
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 85001780, listed August 9, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1503 W. Pettigrew St., Durham |
|---|---|
| County | Durham County |
| Listed | August 9, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001780 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by Edward Knox Powe) |
| Architectural style | Early Neoclassical Revival with lingering Queen Anne tendencies |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Education, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a rental residence by long-term tenants; structurally sound though badly in need of paint. The owner planned demolition for nursing home additions, and a citizen was trying to move the house. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 36.00511, -78.91941 (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 85001780.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19987663
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.