Abrams Plains
The pin is a point inside the NPS boundary polygon, not a surveyed location.
Why it's listed
Abrams Plains is a frame plantation house near Stovall in Granville County, North Carolina, built in stages from the 1760s onward. Samuel Smith established the plantation in 1766 after moving from Essex County, Virginia, and grew tobacco there with a self-sufficient complex of shops, gardens and livestock. In 1830 his granddaughter Sarah Pomfret Smith Downey and her husband Samuel Smith Downey replaced much of the original dwelling with a two-story, three-bay Greek Revival block on the same foundation. The 1830 section has a double-pile central hall plan, high ceilings, twelve-over-twelve sash windows, and a stair rising to the attic. Earlier eighteenth-century rooms, including Federal-style mantels and an enclosed Y-shaped stair, survive in the rear sections. The property is regarded as significant for its tobacco-era origins, its Smith family leader, and its Greek Revival house, which has remained in the same family line for generations.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the property reflects the long continuous ownership of a single family, the Smiths and their descendants, from the 1760s onward, and the tobacco plantation economy of the northeastern Piedmont. It also cites the life of Samuel Smith, a local civil and military leader in Granville County, and the regional Greek Revival plantation house design of the 1830 section.
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 79001711, listed November 29, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NW of Stovall, Stovall |
|---|---|
| County | Granville County |
| Listed | November 29, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001711 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1766-1830 |
| Architectural style | Transitional Federal to Greek Revival, rural vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 40 |
| Coordinates | 36.48319, -78.51292 (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 79001711.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18711526
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.