McIver, John D., Farm
Why it's listed
Built about 1855 for John Dalrymple McIver, this farm in Sanford, North Carolina, is now surrounded by a suburban subdivision but still holds a core of nineteenth-century buildings. The centerpiece is a two-story, weatherboarded frame I-house with a hall-parlor plan, vernacular Greek Revival woodwork, brick end chimneys and an enclosed back stair rising from a rear shed room. Later owners added one-story wings, a basement and a swimming pool, and the original front porch was removed, though its parts are stored on the property. Surviving farm structures include a brownstone meat house, a well with an early stone curb, a carriage house, remnants of an iron fence, and a corn crib of diamond-notched, straight-sawn timbers that is the oldest identified in Lee County. The complex was listed for its architecture, as one of the best-preserved antebellum farm groups in the county, with significance at the local level.
Significance in brief: The farm is cited as one of the more intact nineteenth-century residential and agricultural complexes in Lee County and one of the few preserving antebellum farm buildings. Its vernacular Greek Revival farmhouse has a notable enclosed stair arrangement. Its outbuildings include a brownstone meat house and the county's oldest identified corn crib, built of diamond-notched, straight-sawn timbers.
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 93000729, listed August 18, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2007 Windmill Dr., Sanford |
|---|---|
| County | Lee County |
| Listed | August 18, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000729 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Second half of the 19th century |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Private property still used as a single dwelling, with outbuildings used for storage. The farmhouse has extensive mid- and late-twentieth-century additions. |
| Acreage | 6.3 |
| Coordinates | 35.49393, -79.20804 (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 93000729.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19987047
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.