Lebanon
Why it's listed
Lebanon is a two-story Greek Revival plantation house southwest of Dunn in Harnett County, North Carolina. Named for a grove of great cedars that mostly fell to Hurricane Hazel in 1954, it is built of weatherboarded frame on a common-bond brick foundation, with a hip roof, one-story wings, and a two-tier front porch with an open pediment. Tradition says John Smith built it for his son Farquhard, who married in 1824, and tax lists from the mid-1820s support this. During the Battle of Averasboro on March 16, 1865, the house served as a Confederate hospital, and a letter from Farquhard Smith's daughter describes wounded men arriving by ambulance and surgeons working under sheds and trees. The house is the only one of three large Smith family houses in the area still held by descendants. Outbuildings, including a frame kitchen and smokehouse, remain in a fenced yard.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites the house's well-documented use as a Confederate hospital during and after the Battle of Averasboro on March 16, 1865. It is also the only one of three large houses built in the area by the prominent Smith family that has stayed in the hands of descendants. It is described as a typical Greek Revival plantation house.
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 73001351, listed January 29, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4.5 mi. SW of Dunn on NC 82, Dunn |
|---|---|
| County | Harnett County |
| Listed | January 29, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001351 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | John Smith, according to tradition, built the house for his son Farquhard Smith |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, unaltered, on its original site, and in use as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Within district | Averasboro Battlefield Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.25988, -78.67114 (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 73001351.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18711598
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.