McClelland-Davis House
Why it's listed
Northwest of Statesville stands a two-story frame plantation house built probably between 1830 and 1845, most likely around 1835, for John N. McClelland. Its transitional Federal and Greek Revival design includes a hipped-roof front porch with finely fluted Doric columns, a double-leaf entrance with sidelights and transom, and a center-hall plan. Inside, a graceful stairway with tulip brackets reflects Owen Biddle's 1810 builders' guide, a feature shared with Mt. Mourne, Wood Lawn and the Johnson-Neel House, which may have had the same builder. Surviving outbuildings include a handhewn granary and a half dovetail log smokehouse, both probably contemporary with the house. The McClelland family held the land for over a century before it was sold in 1876 to Jonathan A. Davis, whose descendants later owned it. The house is considered one of the most refined and best preserved plantation houses in Iredell County, and the farm and woodland setting remains in use.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the most sophisticated and best preserved plantation houses in Iredell County, with refined transitional Federal/Greek Revival detailing. Its stair design shows the influence of Owen Biddle's 1810 builders' guide. It also represents antebellum plantations that stayed in one family for many years, and its contemporary outbuildings and farmland form a fitting setting.
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 80002873, 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 1551, Statesville |
|---|---|
| County | Iredell County |
| Listed | November 24, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002873 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1830-1845 |
| Architect / builder | John N. McClelland (believed builder); possibly the same unnamed builder as Mt. Mourne and Wood Lawn |
| Architectural style | Transitional Federal-Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence; house and remaining outbuildings described as well preserved, with the land still used for farmland and woodlands. |
| Acreage | 11.5 |
| Coordinates | 35.83078, -80.92429 (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 80002873.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19987014
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.