Patton Farm
Why it's listed
Set on twenty acres of rolling farmland in the Pigeon River valley near Canton, this farm centers on a two-story brick house, a large gambrel-roof barn and several small outbuildings. James Patton bought former Cherokee land in 1828 and established the farm about 1830. His home sat on the Buncombe Turnpike and became known for hospitality to travelers, including circuit-riding judges and lawyers, and it is marked on an 1833 state map. The present brick house appears to date from the post-Civil War years, possibly built over an earlier dwelling, and shows Italianate-influenced window hoods. About 1912 James S. Patton enlarged it for his growing family, raising the rear wing and adding a two-story front porch and Colonial Revival mantels. The farm stayed in the family for about a century and a half, spanning four generations, and it reflects the settlement of far western North Carolina and the way mountain farmsteads expanded over time.
Significance in brief: The farm was established about 1830 by James Patton and stayed in the Patton family for roughly 150 years. It was known for hospitality to travelers on the Buncombe Turnpike and appears on an 1833 state map. The brick house represents dwellings of prosperous mountain families, and its early twentieth century additions show how a farmstead grew across generations.
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 80002845, listed November 10, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Canton, Phillipsville |
|---|---|
| County | Haywood County |
| Listed | November 10, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002845 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates ca. 1840?, ca. 1880, 1912) |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Traditional brick form with Italianate influences; ca. 1912 Colonial Revival-type details |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed condition is good; the house is occupied, privately owned, and a small outbuilding serves as a family museum of farm implements and artifacts. |
| Acreage | 20 |
| Coordinates | 35.53920, -82.87592 (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 80002845.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19987463
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.