Williams-Powell House
Why it's listed
Built about 1830 for planter Giles Williams, Jr., this two-story weatherboarded frame house near Orrum was the centerpiece of a plantation that grew to about 1,500 acres. Its interior woodwork, including molded mantels, six-panel doors and chair rails, displays a transitional blend of Federal and Greek Revival detail and is regarded as among the finest surviving in Robeson County. The free-standing two-story portico on the east front is a feature found in North Carolina only in counties along the South Carolina border. The house's stair rises from a rear porch room rather than from either main room, a plan associated with southeastern North Carolina. Williams had thirteen children, and the house passed to his daughter Ora Williams Powell in 1906 and then to her daughter. Remaining in one family for about 150 years, it is noted for its unusual survival among local plantation houses.
Significance in brief: The house is regarded as one of the oldest surviving houses in Robeson County and a distinguished example of transitional Federal-Greek Revival domestic architecture. Its free-standing two-story portico and its two-room first-story plan with a stair rising from the rear porch room are described as regional features, and its interior finish is said to remain largely intact. It also served as the seat of a large plantation and has remained in the same family for about 150 years.
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 84002453, listed April 9, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SR 2256, Orrum |
|---|---|
| County | Robeson County |
| Listed | April 9, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002453 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1830-1905 |
| Architectural style | Transitional Federal-Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The first story is occupied by caretakers and the second story is used by the owner as a retreat; later changes include an enclosed ell porch and a bathroom addition. |
| Acreage | 115 |
| Coordinates | 34.37516, -79.05139 (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 84002453.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q21188031
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.