Davidson House
Why it's listed
Set in a clearing along SR 1337 in rural Iredell County, this log farmhouse was built about 1805 by Joseph Davidson on land his grandfather had willed to him in 1795. It began as a simple Georgian farmhouse with a hall-and-parlor plan and was enlarged and remodeled in the Federal style around 1830. Its front shed porch is finished like a room, with flush sheathing, paneled wainscot matching the interior, and fluted Doric columns, a treatment described as rare or unique in the county. Inside are six-panel doors, 9/6 sash windows, molded surrounds and a Federal tripartite mantel. A half-dovetail log slave quarter and a log barn survive nearby. The property has stayed in the Davidson family throughout its history. It is now vacant and has suffered some vandalism, including removal of a parlor mantel, yet it remains largely intact and is regarded as one of the county's most architecturally outstanding early nineteenth century houses.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as one of the finest surviving examples of early nineteenth century finish in Iredell County, largely unaltered since its Federal-style remodeling. Its front porch, finished like a room with flush sheathing, paneled wainscot and fluted Doric columns, is described as rare or unique in the county. The log outbuildings help complete the picture of an early rural farmstead.
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 80002880, listed November 24, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SR 1337, Troutman |
|---|---|
| County | Iredell County |
| Listed | November 24, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002880 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1805; 1830 |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Davidson (builder, per historical background) |
| Architectural style | Georgian, remodeled in Federal style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant and partially vandalized, with mantels disturbed or removed, but described as remarkably intact. |
| Acreage | 8.8 |
| Coordinates | 35.74875, -80.91552 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 80002880.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5241658
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.