Fox Haven Plantation
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Fox Haven is a large two-story brick house in Green Hill township, Rutherford County, North Carolina. According to family tradition, James Morris built it in 1823 on land his father, John Morris, began acquiring in 1769. The house is five bays wide and three deep, laid in Flemish bond on the front and west side and common bond on the east and rear. Its chimneys are placed unusually, with two on the rear wall and one on the south front. The south entrance has a paneled door, transom, half-sidelights and delicate molded trim, and segmental lunettes fill the gable pediments. Inside, a center hall holds a single-flight stair with a plain Federal balustrade, and the rooms have paneled wainscots and varied mantels. The Morris family held the plantation until 1941. It is valued as an interesting example of early nineteenth-century brick building in western North Carolina, notable for its plan and Federal detailing.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls Fox Haven one of the more interesting examples of two-story brick houses built in western North Carolina in the early nineteenth century, because of its unusual plan and chimney placement. It is also distinguished by well-executed Federal details at its entrance and lunettes. The plantation is tied to John Morris, an early settler and Revolutionary-era committee member.
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 72000996, listed September 14, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Rutherfordton off SR 1157, Rutherfordton |
|---|---|
| County | Rutherford County |
| Listed | September 14, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000996 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | James Morris (built the house per family tradition) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and used as a private residence; occupied. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 35.34817, -82.05344 (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 72000996.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19865911
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.