Cedar Lane
Also known as: Fountain House
Why it's listed
Cedar Lane is a two-story, double-pile frame farmhouse reached by a long lane lined with old cedars, near Leggett in Edgecombe County. Built in the late 1840s for James D. Savage, it is a plain but well-proportioned example of vernacular Greek Revival design, with a hip roof, a one-story porch on square posts, a central hall, and back-to-back fireplaces. A cook's house, dairy, smokehouse, tool shed, barn and carriage house survive from about the same period. Savage farmed the land with enslaved labor, and the property remained a moderately prosperous plantation after the Civil War. Almon Fountain later acquired it, and his nine surviving children grew up there to become civic leaders. One son, Richard Tilman Fountain, served as speaker of the state House and as lieutenant governor from 1929 to 1933. The property was listed for its architecture, its link to the Fountain family, and its picture of rural farm life in eastern North Carolina.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as an excellent, little-altered example of the vernacular Greek Revival house type found on medium-size farms in eastern North Carolina. It was the seat of a moderately prosperous plantation before and after the Civil War. It was also the childhood home of the nine Fountain children, who became civic leaders, including Lieutenant Governor Richard Tilman Fountain (1929-1933).
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 82003451, listed April 15, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of Tarboro off NC 44, Leggett |
|---|---|
| County | Edgecombe County |
| Listed | April 15, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003451 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; the house has been rented since 1972 and is described as still in fine condition. |
| Acreage | 46.1 |
| Coordinates | 35.98488, -77.50771 (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 82003451.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18711544
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.