Farmville Plantation
Why it's listed
Two brick houses of different periods stand together on the Piedmont farmland of Iredell County, with several outbuildings nearby. The smaller dwelling, built probably by John McElwraith, who settled the land in 1751, is considered the oldest brick house in the county. The main house was built by Joseph Chambers after his 1818 marriage to Margaret Brown, on land inherited from his father, Henry Chambers. It is a two-story brick building with a center hall plan, a Doric tetrastyle entrance portico, and Flemish bond brickwork on its front and rear. Its interiors keep their original trim, including Federal-style parlor and dining room mantels. The open-string stair rising against the hall's west wall, with its tulip brackets, is regarded as a fine example of the Federal houses of the Piedmont. The Chambers family were among the county's first settlers, and the house reflects their prosperity as planters.
Significance in brief: The complex is significant for its early brick dwelling, thought to be the oldest brick house in Iredell County, and for its Federal-period main house with fine brickwork and interiors. The graceful spiral stair with tulip brackets is noted as characteristic of major Federal houses of the Piedmont. The property is also tied to the Chambers family, among the county's first settlers.
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 73001353, listed June 19, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SE of Elmwood off U.S. 70 on SR 2362, Elmwood |
|---|---|
| County | Iredell County |
| Listed | June 19, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001353 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century to 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Coordinates | 35.73958, -80.76480 (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 73001353.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19461708
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.