Wood Lawn
Why it's listed
Built around 1840 as a two-story frame plantation house near Mount Mourne in Iredell County, Wood Lawn combines Federal and Greek Revival features in a four-bay, gable-roofed form on a fieldstone foundation, with double end chimneys of common-bond brick. A Greek Revival fluted doorway surround with lozenge-shaped corner blocks frames the double front door, and the center hall holds a spiral stair with a volute newel, a detail drawn from Owen Biddle's 1810 Young Carpenter's Assistant. Several interior mantels have Doric colonettes and fluted friezes. The house is regarded as one of the most refined plantation houses in the county and closely resembles Mt. Mourne and the McClelland-Davis House, which may share its builder. It is associated with Dr. George Stinson, a planter and early trustee of Davidson College, whose home was popular with students. Stinson and his wife are buried at Centre Presbyterian Church. The exact construction date remains uncertain, with family accounts giving 1837 and 1845.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Wood Lawn is one of the most sophisticated and best preserved plantation houses in Iredell County, and one of the most sophisticated examples in the county of the transitional Federal/Greek Revival style. Its design closely resembles Mt. Mourne and the McClelland-Davis House, and its graceful stair reflects the influence of Owen Biddle's Young Carpenter's Assistant. It is also associated with Dr. George Stinson, a prominent planter and early trustee of Davidson College.
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 80002866, listed November 24, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SR 1138, Mount Mourne |
|---|---|
| County | Iredell County |
| Listed | November 24, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002866 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1840 |
| Architectural style | Transitional Federal/Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is owned by a private family who are working toward its restoration; the exterior is largely unaltered apart from the porch columns and rear one-story additions of about the 1950s. |
| Acreage | 14.3 |
| Coordinates | 35.51824, -80.83442 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 80002866.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8032232
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.