Davie, William R., House
Why it's listed
Set on a shaded lot on Norman Street at the edge of Halifax, this two-story frame house with a side-hall plan was built circa 1783 by William R. Davie, who bought five acres in the town from Willie Jones. The dwelling has molded weatherboards, a brick foundation, a modillion and dentil cornice, and a large central false gable. Inside, a transverse arch divides the hall, and the mantels and chair rails show transitional Georgian-Federal finish. Some alterations, including Victorian-era roofline features, later wings and a replaced porch, have changed the original appearance. Davie was a Revolutionary War colonel and commissary general, a delegate to the 1787 Federal Convention, and a Federalist campaigner for ratification of the Constitution in North Carolina. He introduced the act establishing the University of North Carolina, helped raise its funds, and served as governor in 1798. He lived here until moving to South Carolina in 1805.
Significance in brief: It is an interesting transitional Georgian-Federal town house and was the home, during most of his active career, of William R. Davie, a leading North Carolina Federalist. Davie played a primary role in the state's ratification of the Federal Constitution and in the chartering and formation of the University of North Carolina.
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 73001348, listed June 19, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Norman St., Halifax |
|---|---|
| County | Halifax County |
| Listed | June 19, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001348 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1783 (18th Century) |
| Architect / builder | William R. Davie (built the house, presumably soon after 1783) |
| Architectural style | Transitional Georgian-Federal |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a private residence; the form marks the property as occupied, in its original site, with some exterior and interior alterations and later additions. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 36.33102, -77.59202 (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 73001348.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14708282
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.