Dorland Memorial Presbyterian Church
.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Built in 1900 on a small lot close to Bridge Street in Hot Springs, a village on the French Broad River in the North Carolina mountains, Dorland Memorial Presbyterian Church has a modified cruciform plan, splayed gable roofs, pebbledash walls, and a four-sided belfry topped by an octagonal steeple. Asheville architect R. S. Smith designed it, and local carpenter Zeke Goforth built it. Smith had supervised construction of Biltmore House before practising in Asheville, and the church is regarded as an exceptional village building for its architect-designed form in a modest rural setting. Its memorial stained glass windows are notable in the mountain context. The church was named for Dr. Luke Dorland, a Presbyterian minister who founded a school in Hot Springs that became Dorland-Bell School, which closed in 1942 when it merged into Warren Wilson College. Ministers including Francis McGaw and Woodward Finley, both foreign missionaries, served the congregation. The church remains one of the few surviving links to that school in town.
Significance in brief: The church is argued to be significant as an architect-designed, nontraditional building in a rural mountain village, designed by Asheville architect R. S. Smith. It is also tied to the Dorland (later Dorland-Bell) School founded by Dr. Luke Dorland, and to prominent Presbyterian ministers Francis McGaw and Woodward Finley, who were foreign missionaries.
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 86001907, listed July 24, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Bridge St. at Meadow Ln., Hot Springs |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | July 24, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001907 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900 |
| Architect / builder | R. S. Smith (architect); Zeke Goforth (builder) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still plays an important role in Hot Springs community and religious life, with an active membership. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Hot Springs Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.89234, -82.82853 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 86001907.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5298049
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.