Welles, Paul and Ellen, House
Also known as: Robert and Anne Dahle House
Why it's listed
Built in 1956 on a wooded 1.88-acre lot in Raleigh's Highland Gardens subdivision, this five-bedroom Split-Level house was designed by Kenneth McCoy Scott for Paul and Ellen Welles on land from Ellen's family farm. The long shed roof, board-and-batten siding stained dark brown, and glass walls facing a rear meadow set it apart. Inside, the plan is open, with high ceilings, a tall brick chimney, birch cabinets built on site, and walls and ceilings of antique pine salvaged from Ellen Welles's childhood home. Scott was among the first graduates of the North Carolina State University School of Design, and the house shows the Modernist emphasis on fitting a building to its site and joining indoor and outdoor space. It is judged a fine, little-altered example of early Modern residential design in Raleigh. Changes are limited to a rubber roof, minor storage changes, and a ca. 1990 garage-carport.
Significance in brief: The house is nominated under Criterion C for local architectural significance as a well-preserved 1950s Modern residence. It reflects the Modernist design ideas taught at the NC State University School of Design, where architect Kenneth McCoy Scott studied. It is one of the early modern houses in Raleigh associated with that school and its faculty.
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 08001388, listed January 29, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3227 Birnamwood Rd., Raleigh |
|---|---|
| County | Wake County |
| Listed | January 29, 2009 |
| Reference number | 08001388 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1956 |
| Architect / builder | Pruden & Scott, architects; Edwards, Jim, Company, contractor |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement: Split-Level |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as virtually unaltered with high integrity, and still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 1.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.81181, -78.68139 (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 08001388.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q21016328
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.