Long, Alexander, House
Why it's listed
Alexander Long House is a large two-story frame dwelling on a hilltop above the Yadkin River near Spencer, Rowan County. Alexander Long is thought to have built it about 1786 for his second wife, Elizabeth, on land his father acquired in 1759. Long also kept a public ferry on the river near the mouth of Grant's Creek by 1784. The house's most striking feature is the south gable end, where two large Flemish bond brick chimneys are connected by a high brick pent. Glazed headers form hearts on the chimneys, with the initials "AL" and "EL" below. Thomas Waterman called this treatment rare in North Carolina, and the nomination ranks it among the finest patterned brickwork in the South. Inside, the original four-room plan survives, with raised-paneled wainscots and carved mantels. Later changes include lapped siding, a modern porch and a kitchen wing. The property passed through the Long, Braun, Chambers and Sowers families before its 1969 sale.
Significance in brief: The house is notable for its massive double-shoulder Flemish bond chimney arrangement joined by a brick pent, with hearts and the initials "AL" and "EL" in glazed headers. Thomas Waterman described these as "rare in North Carolina", and the nomination calls them among the finest examples of patterned brickwork in the South. It is also tied to Alexander Long's ferry on the Yadkin River.
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 72000995, listed February 1, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of Spencer on Sowers Ferry Rd., Spencer |
|---|---|
| County | Rowan County |
| Listed | February 1, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000995 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architect / builder | Alexander Long (thought to have built the house) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a private residence in fair condition, on its original site; the form notes later alterations such as replacement siding, a modern porch and a kitchen wing. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 35.70292, -80.42007 (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 72000995.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19986841
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.