Melton-Fortune Farmstead
Why it's listed
Set on 140 acres of bottomland and forested hillside south of the Broad River, this farmstead near Golden Valley grew from a log house built by John Melton, who moved from Virginia and bought land in 1796. The original hall-and-parlor log core was later weatherboarded and enlarged, and it keeps a boxed-in stairway, flush board sheathing and a simple Federal mantel. Surrounding it are a smokehouse, corn cribs, a granary, a rock flower house and a family cemetery with 71 graves. The standout is a log barn with a wooden, mule-driven threshing machine, thought to date from before the Civil War and since restored to working order. Ownership passed from Melton to his son John Martin Melton, then to grandson Julius Fortune, and remained with descendants. Census records show a self-sufficient farm growing varied crops. The property was listed as a representative nineteenth-century farm complex with likely archaeological potential.
Significance in brief: The farm is presented as a representative nineteenth-century farm complex, with a house built in stages from the 1790s and a log barn containing an early nineteenth-century wooden, mule-powered thresher. The oldest section keeps a vernacular Federal mantel and early woodwork. Archaeological remains are also considered likely to add to its significance.
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 85001553, listed July 11, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SR 1006 S of NC 226, Golden Valley |
|---|---|
| County | Rutherford County |
| Listed | July 11, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001553 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (house built by John Melton, per the statement of significance) |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Federal (hall-and-parlor log house, later weatherboarded) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house has been unoccupied since the 1960s, but the land is still farmed by the family. The property is described as deteriorated, with a cellar room in ruins. |
| Acreage | 140 |
| Coordinates | 35.50876, -81.76485 (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 85001553.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19987077
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.