Jordan, Dr. Arch, House
Also known as: Manse Little River Presbyterian Church; Or931
Why it's listed
Built in the mid-1870s for Dr. Archibald Currie Jordan, this two-story, center-hall frame house in the Caldwell community of northern Orange County is regarded as the most ornate and best-preserved rural Italianate dwelling in the county. Its features include bracketed, overhanging eaves, paired hooded windows with curved tops, a round-topped entrance door, and a low-hipped porch. Inside, original plaster, diagonal tongue-and-groove sheathing in the center hall, molded post-and-lintel mantels, and a curving open staircase survive largely unaltered. The house is also important for social history. Dr. Jordan served as the community's physician for about twenty-five years and was involved with the Caldwell Institute school. He and his brother operated a general store and pharmacy across the road. From 1905 to 1929 the house served as a manse for three local Presbyterian churches. The property's outbuildings include a smokehouse and a tobacco barn.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the best-preserved and most ornate rural example of the Italianate style in Orange County, with much of its original interior intact. It also argues the house was central to rural community life through Dr. Jordan's medical practice, the Jordan Brothers' store, and its use as a Presbyterian manse from 1905 to 1929.
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 98000995, listed August 6, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7015 NC 57, Caldwell |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | August 6, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000995 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1875-1929 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house was used as a Presbyterian manse until 1929 and later passed into the McKee family, serving primarily as farmland. |
| Acreage | 47.2 |
| Coordinates | 36.18451, -79.01889 (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 98000995.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19874752
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.