Wakefields
Why it's listed
Wakefields, also known as Home Acres, is a plantation complex in Wake County, North Carolina, made up of buildings from several periods. The main house has a two-story front block in transitional Federal-Greek Revival style, reportedly built in 1831, with a pedimented two-tier entrance porch and Doric columns. Behind it are a one-and-one-half-story section thought to predate the front block and a kitchen with a massive stone chimney. Southwest of the house stands a separate early dwelling, possibly of eighteenth-century date, and a small slave house sits farther to the rear. Ransom Sutherland bought the land in 1786, and the Sutherlands were calling the place Wakefields by 1807. The Harris family later lived there, and the Harrises used the name Home Acres by 1939. The property was listed because the buildings together trace about a century of the plantation's history, and the survival of so complete a group is described as rare. Large old trees and a boxwood garden add to the setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination holds that the complex is a well-preserved group of plantation buildings that together show the plantation's long history. The buildings reflect nearly a century of ownership, from the Bell family through the Sutherlands to the Harrises. The survival of such a complete set of buildings representing a property's chronology is called rare.
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 74001378, listed October 16, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SE of Creedmoor off U.S. 15A, Wake Forest |
|---|---|
| County | Wake County |
| Listed | October 16, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001378 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th and 19th centuries |
| Architectural style | Transitional Federal-Greek Revival (main block) |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent, original site, occupied as a private residence at the time of nomination; the slave house is in near ruinous condition. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 36.00254, -78.52290 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 74001378.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24436293
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.