Purefoy-Dunn Plantation
Why it's listed
This 185-acre farm southwest of Wake Forest preserves the core of a once larger plantation of 650 to 750 acres. Its main house, a two-story, L-shaped frame building, began as a small Federal style dwelling around 1814 and was enlarged and remodelled in the Greek Revival style by Samuel H. Dunn around 1850. Rev. John Purefoy, who built the original house, was a Baptist minister and a founder and first trustee of Wake Forest College. A historian credited him as the key figure in choosing the farm that became the college's campus in 1832. Dunn ran a far larger farming operation, growing wheat, corn, cotton and other crops with enslaved labor. The house retains its original stone foundations, six-over-six windows and Greek Doric pilasters, though the front portico was removed. A mid-19th century smokehouse survives, along with several 20th century farm buildings and scattered foundations of former tenant or slave houses.
Significance in brief: The house was the residence of Rev. John Purefoy, a founder and early trustee of Wake Forest College who helped select the college's site. Later owner Samuel H. Dunn extended and remodelled it in the Greek Revival style, making it a representative Wake County example of a piedmont plantation seat.
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 88000238, listed March 24, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E side US 1, .3 mi. N of US 1A, Wake Forest |
|---|---|
| County | Wake County |
| Listed | March 24, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000238 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | ca. 1814-ca. 1850 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still a private residence with a stock-farming operation on the property; the house has lost its portico and had other alterations but remains essentially intact. |
| Acreage | 185 |
| Within district | Purefoy-Dunn Plantation (Boundary Decrease) |
| Coordinates | 35.95888, -78.53807 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 88000238.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q22061057
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.