Middleton House
Also known as: Chatham-Hanes House; R. Philip Hanes,Jr. House
Why it's listed
Built ca. 1829 as a two-story frame house with Federal detailing on a plantation near the Savannah River in South Carolina, the house was dismantled piece by piece in 1930 and moved by rail to Winston-Salem. Architect William Roy Wallace supervised its reconstruction on a wooded tract, keeping the center-hall plan, mantels, cornices and paneled wainscots while altering room proportions for modern living. The grounds were laid out by landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman, whose boxwood-bordered walks, terraced lawn and small southeast garden survive largely as her plans specified. Shipman also advised on the wallpapers and furnishings chosen for the hall and living room, many of which remain. The house is valued for its Colonial Revival reconstruction of an early Federal house and for its link to Shipman, a prominent designer of her era. Its significance also rests on the 1930 move, which reflected the preservation practices of the time.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its Colonial Revival reconstruction under architect William Roy Wallace and for its connection with landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman, whose site plan, garden and interior decoration work survive. It also reflects 1930s preservation practice and gains significance from its history since the move.
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 00001552, listed December 28, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2721 Robinhood Rd., Winston-Salem |
|---|---|
| County | Forsyth County |
| Listed | December 28, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00001552 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1930 - ca. 1933 |
| Architect / builder | Wallace, William Roy - architect for move and restoration |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Conservation, Architecture, Landscape Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied by the owners, who retain a life estate; the house and nearly five acres are owned by Wake Forest University. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 36.11753, -80.29197 (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 00001552.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q25247503
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.