Gwyn, James M., House
Also known as: Springdale
Why it's listed
Built around 1888 near Cruso in Haywood County, this two-story frame farmhouse known as Springdale combines a boxy four-square plan with Italianate scroll brackets and Eastlake interior details. It rises above a brick foundation, with a wraparound porch, twin corbelled chimneys and a center-hall plan. Such massing and ornament were uncommon in a remote mountain district where vernacular housing prevailed. James M. Gwyn, who built it, farmed here on a self-sufficient, scientific model, bought no commercial feed or fertilizer, and served as postmaster, justice of the peace and county commissioner. The house later became the heart of the New College Community, a summer rural-education camp run from 1933 to 1939 by Columbia University's Teachers College under Dr. Thomas Alexander. Students lived, studied and dined at the property. The house remains largely original, with a few outbuildings, and its farm fields are now a golf course.
Significance in brief: The house is unusually substantial and fashionable for a remote part of Haywood County, where folk building traditions still dominated. It is tied to James M. Gwyn, a self-sufficient, scientific farmer who was active in county civic affairs. From 1932 to 1939 it was the center of Columbia University Teachers College's New College Community summer program.
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 84002335, listed July 12, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NC 276, Cruso |
|---|---|
| County | Haywood County |
| Listed | July 12, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002335 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 and 1900- (specific date ca. 1888) |
| Architect / builder | James M. Gwyn, Builder |
| Architectural style | Four-square massing with Italianate and Eastlake details |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence and described as well preserved and largely original, with a golf course on the surrounding former farmland. |
| Acreage | 6.6 |
| Coordinates | 35.44691, -82.81618 (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 84002335.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19462124
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.