McRae-McQueen House
Why it's listed
This rural frame farm complex near Johns, in Scotland County, North Carolina, consists of three blocks linked by one-story passageways. The oldest part is a one-story Federal house built in the first quarter of the 19th century for Peter McRae on land he acquired in 1791. His grandson and namesake, Peter McRae (1829-1907), inherited the homeplace in 1862 and later added a two-story Italianate block in front, with brackets and a two-tier pedimented porch. The younger McRae served in the legislature and as county board chairman, and as a state senator he backed the effort to create Scotland County. From 1904 the house was home to farm manager Laurin McQueen and his family until 1962. His daughter bought it in 1967 and restored the house and a ten-acre tract, including a mule barn and a former gin and pack house. It is regarded as one of the best preserved houses of its kind in the county.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to the locally prominent McRae family, especially Peter McRae (1829-1907), a local and state political leader who helped push for the creation of Scotland County. The Federal and Italianate blocks are among the best preserved examples of their types in the county. Their combination in one complex gives the house particular importance.
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 80004469, listed November 25, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Johns on US 501, Johns |
|---|---|
| County | Scotland County |
| Listed | November 25, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004469 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Federal and Italianate (vernacular frame) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in 1967 as a single-family residence; described as occupied and in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 34.71941, -79.45466 (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 80004469.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19946163
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.