Commandant's House
Also known as: The Superintendent's House; Hillsborough Military Academy
Why it's listed
Built about 1860 on Barracks Road in Hillsborough, this two-story brick house with corner turrets and crenellated battlements was home to the superintendent of the Hillsborough Military Academy. Charles C. Tew, a Citadel graduate, bought the land in 1858 and founded the school, modeled on the Citadel. The academy trained cadets during the Civil War and operated afterward under General R. C. Colston and later under Paul C. Cameron. In 1895 the property became headquarters of the Farmers' State Alliance, whose secretary-treasurer lived in the house. After the 1920 sale, the large Barracks building sat empty, housed homeless families during the Depression, and was torn down in 1938. The house survived as the only major remnant of the academy. Its brick walls are laid in common bond with Flemish variation, and its center-hall interior retains original mantels. It is in excellent condition and remains a private residence.
Significance in brief: It is the only major structure left from the Hillsborough Military Academy complex and is an imposing example of the castellated style, seen in the mid-nineteenth century as suited to military academies. Its history reflects the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Farmers' State Alliance headquarters era, and the Depression.
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 72000981, listed November 9, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Barracks Rd., Hillsborough |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | November 9, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000981 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date c. 1860) |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival castellated |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Military, Education, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, unaltered, on its original site, and occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 36.07179, -79.12313 (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 72000981.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17039843
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.