Vesuvius Furnace
Why it's listed
Vesuvius Furnace is a rural property in eastern Lincoln County, North Carolina, made up of a two-story frame house and the ruins of a stone iron furnace across the road. The eastern part of the house dates to about 1792 and the western part to about 1810-1820. Inside, the older section has a Federal mantel with an elaborately paneled overmantel and a Georgian stair, while the newer section has a Federal stair with tulip-shaped brackets. The furnace, a square pyramidal stone structure about twenty feet high, has partly fallen. General Joseph Graham, a Revolutionary War officer, ran the ironworks, which formed part of the iron industry that made Lincoln County a state leader before the Civil War. His son William A. Graham, born here in 1804, became governor and secretary of the navy. The house was renovated after 1945 and remains a private residence.
Significance in brief: The property includes the dwelling and iron furnace of General Joseph Graham, a leading figure in early iron production in Lincoln County, which led the state in this antebellum industry. His youngest son William A. Graham, born here, became governor of North Carolina and secretary of the navy. Despite alterations, the house retains much original fabric, including notable mantels and stairs.
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 74001359, listed August 13, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | On SR 1382, N of NC 73, Catawba Springs |
|---|---|
| County | Lincoln County |
| Listed | August 13, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001359 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th and 19th centuries; specific dates ca. 1792 and ca. 1815 |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Graham (traditionally said to have built the dwelling in 1792 and the furnace in 1790) |
| Architectural style | Georgian and Federal elements |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Military, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Dwelling in good condition and used as a private residence; furnace is a partly collapsed ruin. House was altered, including asbestos shingles and a porch replaced about 1945. |
| Acreage | 9.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.49195, -81.08326 (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 74001359.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q22025955
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.