Ruffin-Roulhac House
Also known as: Little Hawfields
.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of Churton and Orange Streets in Hillsborough, this frame house was begun about 1820 by Martin Hanks as a one-and-a-half-story dwelling. About 1830 Frances Blount added two rooms on the east side, creating the present center-passage plan. Molded weatherboards cover the walls, and the interior blends Federal, Greek Revival and Victorian details, including a wide hall with high wainscot and a Federal-style stair. Behind the house are frame outbuildings, including an office, meat house and slave quarters, plus a ruined carriage house. The property is notable architecturally as an early North Carolina example of the shift from Federal to Greek Revival style. It also has strong personal associations: Francis L. Hawks lived here while moving from law to the ministry, and Judge Thomas Ruffin, who called the house Little Hawfields, lived here after the Civil War. At nomination, the house was unused and the town planned to restore it for offices.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a valuable example of the transition from Federal to Greek Revival architecture in North Carolina, and one of the earliest known state dwellings with sophisticated Greek Revival motifs. It is also significant as the home of two prominent men: Francis L. Hawks, who turned from law to theology while living there, and jurist Thomas Ruffin, who lived there after retirement.
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 71000612, listed August 5, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Churton and Orange Sts., Hillsborough |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | August 5, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000612 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Martin Hanks (built ca. 1820); Frances Blount (1830 addition) |
| Architectural style | Federal and Greek Revival transition |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in fair condition, altered, and not in use at the time of nomination; the town of Hillsborough was negotiating to buy it and planned restoration for city government offices. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 36.08192, -79.09906 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 71000612.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19817708
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.