HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-04-2017 - 5-a - Joint Public Hearing with the HPC Regarding the Proposed Desig. of the Dr. Arch Jordan House in the Caldwell Comm. as an OC Local Historic Landmark 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: December 4, 2017
Action Agenda
Item No. 5-a
SUBJECT: Joint Public Hearing with the Historic Preservation Commission Regarding the
Proposed Designation of the Dr. Arch Jordan House in the Caldwell Community
as an Orange County Local Historic Landmark
DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks
and Recreation (DEAPR)
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
1) Local Landmark Application and Report for Peter Sandbeck, 245-2517
the Dr. Arch Jordan House
2) Photos and Location Map
3) Minutes of the September 27, 2017
Meeting of Orange County Historic
Preservation Commission Documenting
Approval of Proposed Landmark
Application
4) Letter from State Historic Preservation
Office
5) Proposed Landmark Ordinance
PURPOSE: To conduct a joint public hearing with the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC)
to receive public comment on the application and proposed ordinance to designate the Dr. Arch
Jordan House as a Local Historic Landmark.
BACKGROUND: This is a routine joint public hearing required by state enabling
legislation and the county's Historic Preservation Ordinance. Following this joint public
hearing, the BOCC and the HPC will take into consideration public comments, if any. The HPC
may refer the ordinance back to the Board of Commissioners for consideration and adoption at
the next BOCC meeting on December 12, 2017.
In 1991, the BOCC adopted the "Ordinance Creating the Historic Preservation Commission
(HPC) of Orange County", also referred to as the "Historic Preservation Ordinance". In 1997,
the BOCC adopted the Local Landmark Program, a voluntary program allowing the HPC to
designate properties of local historic and/or architectural significance, as authorized by NC
General Statute 160A-400.1-400.14. One of the HPC's duties is to recommend properties to the
BOCC for local landmark designation. Properties must meet a high standard of historic and/or
architectural significance to be designated as a landmark. The higher standard is appropriate
since landmark property owners are eligible for a 50 percent property tax deferral as provided by
state law, as long as the property retains its historic character. The intent of this tax treatment is
to provide a modest benefit for owners who face high costs to maintain, paint and repair their
historic buildings.
2
The historic landmark designation process involves several steps culminating with the adoption
of an ordinance by the BOCC for each individual landmark. The HPC approved a motion at its
September 27, 2017 meeting stating that the Dr. Arch Jordan House possesses special
historical and architectural significance and is worthy of landmark designation. The application
materials (Attachments 1 and 2) were then submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office
(SHPO) for review and comment as required by state law. The SHPO provided a positive review
(Attachment 4). The next step is for the HPC to hold a joint public hearing with the BOCC, as
required by the Historic Preservation Ordinance.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Should the Board adopt the proposed ordinance designating the Dr.
Arch Jordan House as a Local Landmark, the owner of the property will be eligible to apply for a
50-percent property tax deferral as per state law. A preliminary calculation by DEAPR staff
shows a property tax reduction from the present amount of $2,668 to approximately $1,334. A
final calculation will be generated by Tax Administration staff. (Current assessed value =
$300,900 for house plus historic barn and approximately 8 acres; estimated assessed value
after Landmark designation = $150,450) The entire parcel of property is 47.17 acres.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There are no Orange County Social Justice Goals applicable to
this item.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board conduct a joint public
hearing with the Historic Preservation Commission to receive public comment on the draft
designation ordinance for the Dr. Arch Jordan House. The HPC may refer the ordinance back
to the Board of Commissioners for consideration and adoption at the next BOCC meeting on
December 12, 2017.
ORANGE COUNTY LOCAL LANDMARK APPLICATION Attachment 1 3
PART 1 DATE OF APPLICATION: Sept. 15, 2017
Please type, if possible, or print. All submitted materials become the property of the Orange County
Historic Preservation Commission and cannot be returned.
1. HISTORIC NAME OF PROPERTY: Dr. Arch Jordan House
2. LOCATION (physical location, not mailing address)
A. Street or State Route/Highway: 7015 NC 57
B. Township: Little River
C. Crossroads Community/Vicinity: Caldwell
3. LEGAL OWNER OF PROPERTY (please indicate Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., or other appropriate title)
NAME: Elizabeth P. Davidson TELEPHONE: W: (919) 451-7300
H: (919) 962-0198
ADDRESS: 7015 NC 57
Rougemont,NC 27572
E-MAIL ADDRESS: elizabeth.davidson.nc @gmail.com
BRIEF STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
Please provide a brief statement or summary outlining the historical, architectural, and perhaps
landscape, elements that make the site significant. (This statement should be expanded for question#5
of Part 2 of the application.)
The Dr. Arch Jordan House possesses architectural significance as one of the best preserved and
most stylish examples of the Italianate style in rural Orange County. It retains a wealth of
original ornamental woodwork and other features, including arched-topped windows with
original wood sashes, Italianate-style cornice with a deep overhang supported by sawn brackets,
and its original front porch, posts and railings. On the interior, the main front section of the house
retains all of its ornate original mantels, along with a gracious stair that curves upward from the
rear of the center passage. The rooms exhibit varying decorative patterns of beaded board wall
sheathing or wainscoting. The house is sited in a pristine rural setting on a hill, overlooking its
47 acre parcel. It retains its early smokehouse and two barns. It is historically significant as the
home of Dr. Archibald Currie Jordan(1852-1922), a prominent rural medical doctor and a leader
in the establishment and operation of the Caldwell Institute, a regionally important school.
Jordan was also a successful businessman who operated a nearby general store and pharmacy
with his brother.
Please see attached National Register nomination prepared by Dr. Keith Zahniser, dated Feb.
1, 1998.
*Please submit current photographs of the property including all elevations of the main house and any
other important buildings. Please also include general photographs of the property and include any
important landscape features. (If you wish to use digital photography, please submit hard copy printouts.)
**Please also submit a sketch plan of the property showing the footprint of all key buildings and the
location of all driveways or farm roads.
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ORANGE COUNTY LOCAL LANDMARK APPLICATION
PART 2 DATE OF APPLICATION: September 15, 2017
4. GENERAL DATA
A. Date(s) of Building(s):
Original construction: c. 1875-80.
Subsequent additions, if applicable: House was remodeled in 2001-2002 to convert into bed and
breakfast inn. Work included enlarging original rear wing from story-and-a-half to a full two stories
in 2002, along with construction of a new one-story kitchen and screened porch. The original free-
standing smokehouse structure was attached to the rear of the house by a simple roof connector.
B. Outbuildings: Yes X No ; If yes, number: 3
C. Have any buildings on the property been moved? No
If yes, please give the date, reason, and details of the move. Use an additional sheet if necessary.
D. Approximate Acreage: Total farm consists of 62.17 acres: main parcel is 47.17 acres, plus 15 acre pasture
E. Architect and/or Builder/Mason (if known):Not known
F. Original Use: Residence
G. Present Use: Residence
5. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: See attached National Register Nomination
Please provide a brief statement or summary(on an attached 8 'h"x 11" sheet) outlining the historical, architectural,
and perhaps landscape, elements that make the site significant—these are the features that are most important to
preserve should you wish to make changes to the property in the future. For example, "This property was the Taylor
homeplace from the 1850s to 1940s. The Taylors were an important Orange County family who operated the local
sawmill in the St. Mary's Road community during the 1870s-1900s. While the house was covered with vinyl siding in
the 1980s and a two-room addition was constructed in the back around 1990, the building still looks like a mid
nineteenth-century farmhouse from the road. It sits on a slight hill, framed by several mature oak and pecan trees.
The house retains its original roofline, chimneys and front porch, all of which are visible from the road. In addition, the
property still reads as a farm;several outbuildings survive intact including the building which housed the sawmill, the
dairy, sweet potato barn, and smokehouse."
6. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: See attached National Register nomination
Describe in a narrative form, (on an attached 8 %2" x 11" sheet(s)), the architectural features of the main house and
other buildings on the property. Please include information on any additions and/or remodelings to the buildings,
particularly changes that that may not be apparent in photographs. Please also describe the setting, such as active
farmland, wooded, rural community, urban neighborhood, etc.
7. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW: See attached National Register nomination
Discuss any significant events, personages and/or families associated with the property. (Detailed family genealogies
are not necessary.) Please list any additional sources of information. Only material contained on the form will be
used in the evaluation.
5
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ORANGE COUNTY LOCAL LANDMARK APPLICATION
8. PHOTOGRAPHS/SLIDES
Please provide any additional photographs as necessary to evaluate the site. Photographs should include all four
sides of the main house, close-ups of any important architectural features such as trim, doors or windows, individual
pictures of outbuildings, and an overall picture of the entire complex. Photographs of important interior features, such
as mantels and stairways, are not necessary but are helpful to get a sense of the architectural significance of the
house.
S. SITE PLAN/SURVEY/MAPS
Please include a map showing the location of the property A sketch map is acceptable, but please note street and
route numbers. Please provide a site plan showing the relationship of the main house or building to the driveway and
road, and the relationship of the main house or building to any outbuildings. Please include a'North"arrow.
10. REASON FOR REQUEST
Please offer a brief explanation of how you heard about the Local Landmark Program and why you would like to
participate in it.
First I sought and obtained the National Register designation. Then during that process learned about the
County landmark program in 1999. I started the landmark process in 1999 but did not complete it at that
time I would like to participate in oxder to obtain an additional layer of protection fot my historic ploperty,
which has been in family ownership since 1939'
11, If 'formally designated by the County Commissioners,wilt the property owner seek the tax deferral'? YES
(This in ation is for budgeting purposes only, it will not i actbheHPC'soeoisioDhommrdyourepp&:abonj
12 APPLICANT OR CONTACT PERSON INFORMATION(if other than owner) NA
Name Same as Owner Telephone
Address
City/State ' Zip Code
Signature---- ���� .�l / ���te �/^ �4 , / 4i/7 1m/��'
_-' �� � . /
E-mail
13. This application is submitted[check one of the following]:
X at the request of the owner.
with the owner's knowledge but not at his or her request.
— without the owner's knowledge.
Return to: Cultural Resources Coordinator
Orange County Department of Environment Agriculture, Parks and Recreation
P.O. Box 8181 (306 Revere Road)
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919)245-2517
•
6
NPS Form 10-900
OMB No. 10024-0018
• (Oct. 1990).
•
•
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service .
National Register of Historic Places . •
Registration Form
•
This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in How to Complete the
National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or
by entering the information requested. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for"not aopiicable." For functions,
architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional
entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-900a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items,
1. Name of Property
historic name Jorc?n, Dr Arch House
other names/site number Manse,- Little River Presbyterian Church / Site number OR 931
2: Location
street & number 7015 NC 57 Nnot for publication
city or town Calewell NZAvicinity
state North Carolina code NC county Orange code 135 zip code
3. State/Federal Agency Certification
As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this T_ nomination
0 request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of
Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion,the property
meets ❑ does not meet the National Register criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant
nationally 0 statewide 72 locally. (0 See continuation sheet for additional comments.)
Signature of certifying official/Title Date
State of Federal agency and bureau •
In my opinion, the property ❑ meets 0 does not meet the National Register criteria. (0 See continuation sheet for additional
comments.)
Signature of commenting official/Tale Date
State or Federal agency and bureau
4. National Park Service Certification
I hereby certify that the property is: Signature of the Keeper Date of Action •
LI entered in the National Register.
See continuation sheet. •
determined eligible for the
National Register •
0 See continuation sheet.
Li determined not eligible for the
National Register. --
I i removed from the National
Register.
other. (explain:)-- —
ti 7
Jordan •Dr Arc House Orang ;o. , North Carolina
Name of Property County and State
•
5. Classification
Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property
(Check as many boxes as apply) (Check only one box) (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.)
ER private l building(s) Contributing Noncontributing
❑ public-local ❑ district a buildings
❑ public-State CI site
❑ public-Federal El structure sites
❑ object
structures
• objects
•
4 2 Total
Name of related multiple property listing Number of contributing resources previously listed
(Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing.) in the National Register
_- N/A 0
6. Function or Use
Historic Functions Current Functions
(Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions)
DOMESTIC/single dwelling DOMESTIC/single dwelling
AGRICULTURE/SUBSISTENCE/agricultural outbuilding
RELIGION/church-related residence
7. Description
Architectural Classification Materials
(Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions)
LATE VICTORIAN/Italianate foundation STONE/fieldstone
walls WOOD/weatherboard
roof METAL/tin
other WOOD
BRICK
Narrative Description
(Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.)
(see continuation sheet)
8
Jordan. Dr. Arch; House Orancr ^.o North Carolina
. Name of Property County enc., .ate
10. Geographical Data
Acreage of Property 47. 17 acres
UTM References
(Place additional UTM references on a continuation sheet.)
11 .1 ,1 ii � � lli ► l � Ii
Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing
2 i I ( I I 1 i I I i I I I i i a i , •
•
.— See continuaucn sheet
Verbal Boundary Description
(Describe the boundaries of the property on a continuation sheet.)
Boundary Justification
(Explain why the boundaries were selected on a continuation sheet.)
'11. Form Prepared By
name/title Dr. Keith A. Zahniser
•
organization date . February 1: 1998
street & number 3710 Knollwood Drive telephone (919) 383-4269
city or town Durham state NC zip code 2771.2.
Additional Documentation •
Submit the following items with the completed form:
Continuation Sheets
Maps
A USGS map (7.5 or 15 minute series) indicating the property's location.
A Sketch map for historic districts and properties having large acreage or numerous resources.
Photographs
Representative black and white photographs of the property.
•
Additional items
(Check with the SHPO or FPO for any additional items)
Property Owner
(Complete this item at the request of SHPO or FPO.)
name Elizabeth P. Davidson
street & number 7015 NC•57 telephone (919) 644-1685
city or town Roucremont state NC zip code 27572
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information is being collected for applications to the National Resister of Historic Places to nominate
properties for listing or determine eligibility for listing,to list properties, and to amend existing listings. Response to this request is required to obtain
a benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.).
Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 18.1 hours per response including time for reviewing
instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect
of this form to the Chief, Administrative Services Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127: and the Office of
Management and Budget, Paperwork Reductions Projects (1024-0018), Washington, DC 20503.
Jordan, Dr. Arch House •
Orange Co. North Carolina 9..
Name of Property I,c;; County ar `ate
8. Statement of Significance
Applicable National Register Criteria Areas of Significance
(Mark "x" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property (Enter categories from instructions)
for National Register listing.)
P.RCHITECTURE
A Property is associated with events that.have made SOCIAL HISTORY
a significant contribution to the broad patterns of
our history.
❑ B Property is associated with the lives of persons
significant in our past.
• C Property embodies the distinctive characteristics
of a type, period, or method of construction or
represents the work of a master, or possesses
high artistic values, or represents a significant and
distinguishable entity whose components lack Period of Significance
individual distinction. ca. 1875 — 1929
❑ D Property has yielded, or is likely to yield,
information important in prehistory or history.
Criteria Considerations Significant Dates
(Mark "x" in all the boxes that apply.)
ca. 1875
Property is: 1905
Zl A owned by a religious institution or used for
religious purposes.
Significant Person
❑ B removed from its original location. (Complete if Criterion B is marked above)
N/A
❑ C a birthplace or grave.
Cultural Affiliation
❑ D a cemetery.
N/A
❑ E a reconstructed building, object, or structure:.
❑ F a commemorative property.
❑ G less than 50 years of age or achieved significance . Architect/Builder
within the past 50 years. unknown
Narrative Statement of Significance •
(Explain the significance of the property on one or more continuation sheets.)
9. Major Bibliographical References
Bibliography . • •
(Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form on one or more continuation sheets.)
Previous documentation on file (NPS): Primary location of additional data:
❑ preliminary determination of individual listing (36 g State Historic Preservation Office
CFR 67) has been requested ❑ Other State agency
❑ previously listed in the National Register ❑ Federal agency
❑ previously determined eligible by the National ❑ Local government
Register ❑ University •
❑ designated a National Historic Landmark El Other
❑ recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey Name of repository:
❑ recorded by Historic American Engineering
Record #
10
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval Na.T024-0078
(8-88(
United States Department of the Interior 13
•
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 7 Page 1
Dr.Arch Jordan House
Orange County,North Carolina
Narrative Description:
The Dr.Arch Jordan House is an ornate,center hall,single-pile,two-story frame house with
distinctive Italianate detailing and a projecting central gable built in the last quarter of the nineteenth
century for Dr.Jordan, a prominent physician in the Caldwell,North Carolina community.' The house is
located on the southeast side of NC 57,roughly .25 miles from the intersection with NC 157,a rural part of
Orange county dominated by farmland. The house faces northwest, sitting on a gently rising grassy expanse
of a farmland plot just north of the north fork of the Little River. Two mature shade trees stand fifteen
yards from the front of the house,and frame the porch and doorway when viewing the house face-on.
Other large shade trees stand ten and twenty yards off the northeast corner of the house and thirty yards off
the southwest side,and several smaller trees ring the back,southeast corner. A natural pond is situated to
the northeast of the house,across a rural lane that now serves as the driveway to the property which is lined
by a number of small spruce trees. Directly behind and east of the house is a small,two-room smokehouse,
and southeast of this structure,a more modern pumphouse. A board and batten garage twenty yards south
of the house,a frame barn seventy-five yards southeast of the house,and a tobacco barn approximately two
hundred yards east-southeast of the house constitute the remaining structures. The buildings sit on some
forty-seven acres of farmland which stretches off to the south.
The house is a single-pile form,center hall plan,with two rooms on each of two floors. There is a
projecting center bay under the center gable of a triple-A side-and center-gabled roof. The facade of the
house features paired,hooded 2/2 windows with curved window tops,original shutters and slightly
projecting hooded moldings. Underneath the center gable are projecting,returned eaves supported by
paired,elaborate brackets,as well as a decorative circular attic vent. The one-story porch which follows the
center gable has square posts with decorative bases and a low,hipped-roof configuration. Original porch
brackets and the sawnwork porch balustrade have been removed.2 The centrally-placed entrance door is
round-topped,divided,and crowned with carved,wooden,pedimented moldings.The house is sheathed in
weatherboard,has a triple-a,v-crimp tin roof and is supported on a stone foundation. The side elevations of
the house maintain the same style—decorative attic vents under the side gables,projecting,returned eaves
supported by paired brackets,and paired,hooded windows--except that the side windows are ill instead of
2/2. The back of the house once had a full-length porch,but this has been enclosed to connect an originally-
The bulk of this description is taken directly from the narrative description located in the"Dr.Arch Jordan House"
file,North Carolina Division of Archives and History,Department of Cultural Resources,Survey Site#OR 931,no
author.
2 Richard L.Mattson,"History and Architecture of Orange County,North Carolina,"unpublished manuscript
(Hillsborough,NC:Orange County Planning and Development Department,Orange County,North Carolina,
September 1996),49.
1 11
NFS Fo_nn 10.900-a - - - OMB Approval No.1014-0018
(8-8S) ..
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 7,8 Page 2
Dr.Arch Jordan House
Orange County,North Carolina
separate two-story kitchen building to the house and enable a more recent shed-roofed rear addition to be
attached to the house. The concrete foundation for this recent addition apparently covers what was once a
well. The side-gabled kitchen has the same decorative detail as the house but the windows are 4/4 instead
of 2/2 or 1/1. There is a central interior ridgeline chimney on the kitchen. The house also features two
interior ridgeline brick chimneys with patterned brickwork and corbelling.
The interior of the house is similarly ornate,and has remained largely unaltered. Original plaster
finish exists in the two first floor rooms--painted in one room and papered over in another. There is also
an unusual diagonal wood tongue-and-groove sheathing covering the walls of the center hall,a pattern
which is reflected in the paneled wainscoting in the lower rooms. The center hall contains as well an
elegantly curving open staircase with a handrail supported on lathe-turned balusters. Upstairs rooms feature
tongue-and-groove paneling on the walls and ceilings and built-in closets. Heavily molded post-and-lintel
mantels frame the fireplaces in each main room. The house retains interior four-paneled doors with original
hardware intact,and both the doors and the windows are bordered by molded wooden surrounds.
To the rear of the house is a two-room,combination smokehouse/food storage shed,with original
sub-grade excavation storage space in the northeast room. The structure is windowless,has two doors(one
into each room of the structure),and is built on a foundation of fieldstone. As with the house,this
smokehouse is constructed of weatherboard and features a v-crimp metal roof. Two hundred yards further
to the east sits a side-gabled log and weatherboard tobacco barn,with intact interior tier poles and an
enclosed side bay. The main barn,located southeast of the house,is a one and a half story,multi-use barn
with weatherboard sheathing and a v-crimp,side-gabled roof. The roof extends over the southwestern
elevation,covering a runway and half-story equipment storage rooms.
The site also contains non-contributing outbuildings which include a pump house and a modern
board and batten garage. It is estimated that these structures were built after the period of significance.
•
Statement of Significance:
Summary:
The Dr.Arch Jordan house,located in the northwest corner of Orange County,is eligible for
National Register listing under Criteria A and C. Significant in the area of Architecture under Criteria C,
the Dr.Arch Jordan house is the best-preserved and most stylish example of the Italianate architectural style
in rural Orange County. Built for Dr.Archibald Currie Jordan in the latter part of the nineteenth century,
this center hall;single-pile,two-story house features extensive and ornate architectural characteristics of the
Italianate style,including bracketed,overhanging eaves;paired and rounded doors and windows; a
columned porch; and a low-hipped roof. The house has also preserved much of its ornate,original interior,
12 1 -
NPs Form 10-900-a - OMB Approval No.1024-0018
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic P faces
Continuation Sheet
Section number 8 Page 3
Dr.Arch Jordan House
Orange County,North Carolina
with such decorative features as a tongue-and-groove wooden sheathing which adorns the center hallway
and the upstairs walls and ceilings;heavily molded and distinct mantels surrounding the fireplaces in each
of the main rooms,and an elaborately curved staircase. While other rural Orange County properties display
Italianate features,the Dr.Arch Jordan house remains the most complete and most ornate rural model of
this genre in the county.
Significant as well in the area of Social History under Criteria A,the Dr.Arch Jordan house and
property were closely associated with rural medical practice,the rural economy centered in the cross-roads
general store,and the central social institution of the Presbyterian church. Dr.Jordan inhabited the house
from the 1870s to 1905,using the house as the nucleus of his medical service to the Caldwell community.
He was also quite involved as a teacher and trustee of the nearby Caldwell Institute,a local school, and
established along with his brother a general store and pharmacy across the road from his house. In 1905
three nearby Presbyterian churches jointly purchased the property to use as a manse,and ministers living
there from 1905 to 1929 served these local churches. In rural Orange County districts like Little River
Township,dominated by scattered family farms,it was the church above all other institutions that that
served to cohere local communities and provide a center for neighborhood social life. Cross-roads
communities such as Caldwell developed around the key institutions of the church,the school,or the
general store. The Dr.Arch Jordan house,associated with all of these vital rural institutions,provided a
central hub to the social life of this rural Orange County community for over half a century.
Architectural Context:
The Dr.Arch Jordan House is historically significant primarily as a well-preserved example of Late
Victorian Italianate architecture.Its highly ornate and detailed design provides a wonderful example of this
architectural style. Originating in the"romanticism of the Picturesque movement,"this style was most
popular in the years from 1850 to 1880,although rural North Carolina adaptations appeared into the early
twentieth century.3 Italianate architecture was characterized by overhanging eaves with(sometimes
elaborate)bracketed cornices,"elongated,round-headed and sometimes paired windows capped with
projecting hooded or pedimented and bracketed moldings,"porches with columns and hip-roofed
construction,and an overall projection of verticality--all features clearly present in the Dr.Arch Jordan
House 4 Dr.Jordan was among those wealthy Orange County residents who"chose picturesque versions of
a quote from Gabrielle M.Lanier and Bernard L.Herman,Everyday Architecture of the Mid-Atlantic:Looking at
Buildings and Landscapes(Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997), 147-48; Catherine W.Bishir,North
Carolina Architecture(Chapel Hill:University of North Carolina Press, 1990),286-88.
a Lanier and Herman,Everyday Architecture, 149;Sterling Boyd,"Introduction"in Marguerite Schumann,ed.,
Grand Old Ladies:North Carolina Architecture During the Victorian Era(Charlotte,NC:East Woods Press, 1984),
18-19.
13
NPS Form 10-900-a - OMB Approval Na.1024.0018
(8.881
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 8 Page G
Dr.Arch Jordan House
Orange County,North Carolina
the traditional two-story form to communicate their status and taste."5 The pattern and style chosen by Dr.
Jordan was widely available through popular pattern books, and ornate materials made easier to attain by
post-civil-war industrial and transportation advances.6 While other examples of Italianate styling appear in
several rural Orange County houses,the Dr.Arch Jordan house is clearly the most ornate,complete,and
best preserved example of this architectural style in Orange County. The Pitard House(Study List#OR
829),for example,while displaying Italianate features such as decorative window and door moldings,a
round-topped and'divided front door,and a low-hipped roof,lacks the extent of decorative Italiante styling
of the Dr.Arch Jordan house. A very similarly designed house to the Pitard House located in the same
township(Study List#OR 818)likewise displays limited Italianate features,but again,is not as complete an
example of the style as the Jordan house,and is in poor condition. The John Kenion house(Study List#
OR 736),while exhibiting select characteristics of the Italiante style such as bracketed eaves and arched
window surrounds,projects an overall style of Victorian eclectic. The authors of the comprehensive survey
of Orange County historic resources found the Dr.Arch Jordan house to be"the most elaborate late
nineteenth century dwelling in rural Orange County,"and an architectural history of Orange County
concluded that among the many structures portraying picturesque architecture,the Jordan house is the
clearest rural Orange County example of the Italianate style.7
Social History Context:
The Dr.Arch Jordan house is secondarily significant for its association with important community
members and institutions of Caldwell,North Carolina. Dr.Archibald Currie Jordan was the premier
physician for this small rural community in the twenty-five years from 1881 to 1906, and made many
contributions to community life. Beyond serving as the local medical professional,he served as a teacher,
trustee,and financial supporter of the Caldwell Institute (at one point also called the Caldwell Academy),a
local school. The Caldwell Institute was formed in the mid-1800s as a day school,became a boarding
school in the late 1800s,and later served as the Caldwell community's public school.
Jordan also served the school and community in opening,along with his brother Thomas, a general
store/pharmacy across the,road from his house,which came to be known as the Jordan Brothers' Store. The
store/pharmacy enabled community members and Academy students to get their prescriptions filled without
making the seven-mile trip to Hillsborough. Such cross-roads stores were vital institutions in rural Orange
County,providing loans and credit to neighborhood farmers in tough economic times,and needed
5 Richard L.Mattson, "History and Architecture of Orange County,North Carolina,"49.
6 lbid.,49;47.
Jody Carter and Todd Peck,"Historic Resources of Orange County,"unpublished manuscript(Hillsborough,NC:
Orange County Planning and Development Department, 1993),66; Richard L.Mattson,"History and Architecture
of Orange County,North Carolina,"49.
14 j
NPS Form 10-900-a - OMB App,avd No.1024-0018
(8-861
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service •
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 8 Page
Dr.Arch Jordan House
Orange County,North Carolina
manufactured goods in more affluent ones.$ Robert C.Kenzer,in his study of Orange County from 1849 to
1881,noted that in both antebellum and post-war Orange County rural society,the general store served as a
vital economic and social center for rural neighborhoods. Such stores were often run,as in the Jordan's
case,by a local wealthy family.9 A history of the Jordan family confirms that the Jordan Brothers' Store
was a gathering place for Academy students,locals,and travelers,and that traveling salesmen would often
spend the night in Dr.Jordan's guest room.10
Dr.Jordan was also a ruling elder in the nearby Little River Presbyterian Church. In this small
community settled largely by Scots-Irish migrants,the church served as a central social institution. Kenzer
concluded that the church was"probably the most important social institution in the lives of Orange
[County]'s families"and"played an important role in preserving the bonds between families and promoting
cohesion in the neighborhood,"citing several examples from the history of the Little River Presbyterian
Church.11 Dr.Jordan's house became even more firmly linked to the local Presbyterian church when Dr.
Jordan moved his family to Durham in 1904 and sold the house to the church for use as its manse.12 It was
used as a manse for three local Presbyterian churches--the Little River Presbyterian church,the Fairfield
Presbyterian church, and the Eno Presbyterian church--until the church sold it in 1929 to William Thomas
McKee.13 Presbyterian ministers C.M.Arrowood and William S.Wilhelm both occupied the house,
serving the Little River,Eno,and Cedar Grove communities, and conducting services that would rotate
among the three churches.
Both Dr.Jordan and the Presbyterian ministers,although not farmers themselves,utilized the
acreage associated with the property for farming. According to available census records,Dr.Jordan
boarded a man named William Smith,who was employed by Jordan as a"farm laborer." Similarly,the
1920 census, although noting the occupation of the Rev.William S.Wilhelm as"minister"and the general
nature of his work as"preaching,"nevertheless characterized the property as a"farm"rather than merely a
"house,"and referenced the agricultural schedule number which detailed the farm's produce.l4
Rural communities in turn-of-the-century Orange County were often isolated and tight-knit,
springing up and centering around the crucial institutions of post offices,churches,schools,and general
8 Mattson,"History and Architecture of Orange County,"38; 6..
9 Robert C.Kenzer,Kinship and Neighborhood in a Southern Community:Orange County,North Carolina. 1849-
1881 (Knoxville:University of Tennessee Press, 1987),36-38; 113-14.
10 Octavia Jordan Perry;These Jordans Were Here(Provo,Utah: J.Grant Stevenson, 1969), 187.
1l Kenzer,Kinship and Neighborhood, 11-12.
12 Deed Book 58: 599(October 3, 1905),Orange County,North Carolina.
13 Deed Book 59:95 (April 17, 1906)and Deed Book 94:38(December 1, 1929),Orange County,North Carolina.
14 U.S.Census,Population Schedules,North Carolina, 1900,Orange County,Little River Township,District 5:71,
Sheet 12; U.S. Census,Population Schedules,North Carolina, 1910,Orange County,Little River Township,
District 204:170, Sheet 13. -
18 15
NPS Form 10-900-a - _ - OMB Approvtl No.7024-0018
18-851
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service •
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 8 Page 6
Dr.Arch Jordan House
Orange County,North Carolina
stores that established themselves at rural crossroads. The Caldwell community is in this sense a well-
preserved representative of other rural Orange County cross-roads settlements such as the nearby Cedar
Grove community,and of other inward-turning Orange County neighborhoods such as the Eno,New Hope,
and Cane Creek settlements. The Dr.Arch Jordan house,through its association with a prominent local
physician,a general store, several local Presbyterian churches, and farming--a unique combination of vital
rural institutions--made it a central focal point of much of Caldwell's social activity,and serves to
underscore its significance to the social history of Orange County.
Historical Background:
The date the house was built is contested,but the weight of the evidence points to the mid-1870s as
the most probable period of construction. The Orange County tax assessor lists 1872 as the date of
construction,and Richard Mattson's"History and Architecture of Orange County,North Carolina"claims
that Dr.Jordan built the house in 1875.i5 Both of these dates appear to be estimates based on architectural
style and physical elements, supported by the appearance of other examples of Italianate styling in rural
Orange County architecture in the same period. The latter date is given credence by a notice in the
Hillsborough Recorder,dated July 28, 1875,that"Mr.A.C.Jordan has just about completed his
residence."16 The field recorder responsible for completing the"North Carolina Historic Structure Data
Sheet,"Jody Carter,estimated the construction date to be 1900,but no supporting materials documenting
this date accompany the survey,and in the survey's overall narrative summary the same author gives 1870
as the date of construction.17 According to a family history,Dr.Jordan did not complete his medical
training at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Baltimore,Maryland,until 1881,and did not marry
until 1885.18 Further,the earliest recorded land deed in which Dr.Jordan was listed as grantee occurred in
1885,when he purchased a 10.5 acre tract from his oldest brother,William Jordan.19 Dr.Jordan completed
his land holdings in 1891,when both of his parents died, and he bought out his brothers' and sister's shares
(some seventy-four acres of land)for$1,150.20
As noted above,Dr.Jordan sold the property in 1905,and three local churches used the house for
nearly a quarter-century as a manse. The tobacco barn appears to have been built in the period from 1916-
15 Richard L.Mattson,"History and Architecture of Orange County,North Carolina,"49.
16 Hillsborough Recorder,July 28, 1875,vol.55,3.
17 Jody Carter,"North Carolina Historic Structure Date Sheet,""Dr.Arch Jordan House"file,North Carolina
Division of Archives and History,Department of Cultural Resources,Survey Site#OR 931.
►s Perry,These Jordans Were Here,200-201.
19 Deed Book 48:331 (February 14, 1885),Orange County,North Carolina.
Z0 Deed Book 53: 15(July 24, 1891) •
NPS Form 10-900-a
16
OM6 ARRIOVW Na.No.1Q-4-0018 4 J
(8461
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 8.9 Page 7
Dr.Arch Jordan House
Orange County,North Carolina
1930,most likely for the use of those actually farming on the agricultural acreage of the property. The barn,
while post-dating the house and tobacco barn,seems to have been built before 1930 as well.
It was sometime after the house was sold again,in 1929,that further additions were made to the
property. The back porch was enclosed,connecting the kitchen to the main house,and an even later
addition added a bay area to the back of the kitchen and a rear shed to the space adjacent to the kitchen.
The property passed into the family of William McKee,a locally prominent farmer,and has stayed in the
family, serving primarily as farmland. The current owner is the granddaughter of William McKee.
Bibliography:
Bishir,Catherine W. North Carolina Architecture.Chapel Hill:University of North Carolina Press,
1990.
Boyd, Sterling. "Introduction"in Marguerite Schumann, ed.,Grand Old Ladies:North Carolina
Architecture During the Victorian Era. Charlotte,NC:East Woods Press, 1984.
Carter,Jody. "North Carolina Historic Structure Date Sheet,""Dr.Arch Jordan House"file,North Carolina
Division of Archives and History,Department of Cultural Resources,Survey Site#OR 931.
Carter,Jody, and Todd Peck. "Historic Resources of Orange County." Unpublished manuscript.
Hillsborough,NC:Orange County Planning and Preservation Department, 1993.
Ellis,A.A.,and T.C.Ellis. "History of Eno Presbyterian Church,Cedar Grove,North Carolina."
Hillsborough,NC:Eno Presbyterian Church, 1980.
Jaeger,Dale, et al. Historic Preservation Element.Orange County Comprehensive Plan,Orange County,
North Carolina. Hillsborough,NC:Orange County Historic Preservation Commission and Orange County
Planning Department, 1995.
Kenzer,Robert C. Kinship and Neighborhood in a Southern Community: Orange County,North Carolina,
1849-1881. Knoxville:University of Tennessee Press, 1987.
Lanier,Gabrielle M. and Bernard L.Herman. Everyday Architecture of the Mid-Atlantic:Looking at
Buildings and Landscapes. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997.
17
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval Na.1024-0018 '..
(8-88) . . '
United States Department of the interior
National Park Service • .
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 9:10 Page 8
Dr.Arch Jordan House
Orange County,North Carolina
Lath,Madelaine H. "History of Little River Presbyterian Church." Hurdle Mills,NC: Orange Presbytery,
1942.
Lefler,Hugh,and Paul Wagner. Orange County, 1752-1952. Chapel Hill:The Orange Printshop, 1953.
Mattson,Richard L. "History and Architecture of Orange County,North Carolina." Unpublished
manuscript. Hillsborough,NC: Orange County Planning and Development Department, 1996.
Orange County Record of Deeds. Hillsborough,NC.
Perry,Octavia Jordan. These Jordans Were Here. Provo,Utah: J.Grant Stevenson, 1969.
U.S.Census. 1900-1920. Population Schedules.North Carolina. Department of Commerce and Labor.
Bureau of the Census. Washington,D.C.:U.S. Government Printing Office.
Verbal Boundary Description:
The boundary of the Dr.Arch Jordan House is shown as"Lot A"on the accompanying plat map entitled
"Final Plat of Survey for Margaret P.Dow&Elizabeth P.Davidson,"December 10, 1997.
Boundary Justification:
The boundary includes the acreage containing all the contributing buildings and farmland historically
associated with the property.
18
1
Dr. Arch Jordan House, Caldwell Vicinity, Orange County (NR: OR0931)
Local Landmark Report: Addendum/update to Existing National Register Nomination
By Peter Sandbeck, Orange County Cultural Resources Coordinator, October 12, 2017
This addendum is intended to supplement and update the narrative description of the house and site as
depicted in the existing National Register Nomination for the Dr.Arch Jordan House,written by Dr. Keith
Zahniser,dated February 1, 1998. In 2001,the house underwent a renovation to adapt the structure to
serve as a bed and breakfast inn.The various changes and alterations are discussed below. Most of the
alterations were confined to the existing rear kitchen building and to several shed porches added to that
building and the rear of the house over multiple periods.All of the character-defining exterior
architectural features described in the nomination remain well preserved and intact on the main house,
including all original wood siding,wood window sashes and trim,cornices with sawn eave brackets, all
front porch components, doors and original wood louvered blinds.
Site [Photos 1-31:
The existing site has undergone only minor changes since 1998.The house continues to stand in an
unspoiled rural setting, surrounded by the same 47-acre parcel described in the NR nomination. Large
oak trees still stand at the front and sides, adding shade and character to the setting.The house is still
approached by the same gravel driveway leading from NC 57, running past the house at the rear and
leading to the barn.An existing informal dirt and gravel parking area was enlarged with more gravel,to
accommodate approximately 8 cars; it is located to the southeast,about 40 feet from the house.The
gravel drive then continues along its traditional path to the ca. 1900 main barn.The parking area does
not detract from the appearance or setting due to its distance from the house.
House: Exterior Changes:
There are two primary exterior changes since 1998:the enlargement of the original rear kitchen
building, and the removal of existing one-story rear shed additions at the south end and construction in
the same location of a new one-story kitchen and screened porch.These additions and changes were
confined to the rear, leaving the appearance of the house unchanged when viewed from the front yard.
When viewed from a distance on the main highway, NC 57,the enlarged addition is not readily visible.
Kitchen Building(Photos 1,5, 7 and 81:The major change to the existing rear kitchen building
was the raising of the roof from a story-and-a-half configuration up to a full two-story gable roof
of similar pitch.This was done to create a larger second story for new guest rooms and
bathrooms without having to intrude into the original structure.This included rebuilding the
central chimney of that structure.The old Italianate-style architectural elements including the
cornice brackets and paired windows in the gable ends were retained and reused as part of this
work.The overall footprint of the former kitchen building was retained.The formerly open rear
porch (that had been partially enclosed in the mid-20th century)was reconfigured as a full shed
addition across the back.The original kitchen building was joined to the rear or east wall of the
main house by a gable-roofed connector that ran perpendicular to the roof ridge of the kitchen
19
Dr. Arch Jordan House, Caldwell Vicinity, Orange County (OR0931)
Local Landmark Report:Addendum/update to National Register Nomination
By Peter Sandbeck, Orange County Cultural Resources Coordinator
October 10, 2017
This addendum is intended to supplement and update the narrative description of the house and site as
depicted in the existing National Register Nomination for the Dr.Arch Jordan House,written by Dr. Keith
Zahniser, dated February 1, 1998. In 2001,the house underwent a renovation to adapt the structure to
serve as a bed and breakfast inn.The various changes and alterations are discussed below. Most of the
alterations were confined to the existing rear kitchen building and to several shed porches added to that
building and the rear of the house over multiple periods.All of the character-defining exterior
architectural features described in the nomination remain well preserved and intact on the main house,
including all original wood siding, wood window sashes and trim, cornices with sawn eave brackets, all
front porch components, doors and original wood louvered blinds.
Site [Photos 1-31:
The existing site has undergone only minor changes since 1998.The house continues to stand in an
unspoiled rural setting, surrounded by the same 47-acre parcel described in the NR nomination. Large
oak trees still stand at the front and sides, adding shade and character to the setting.The house is still
approached by the same gravel driveway leading from NC 57, running past the house at the rear and
leading to the barn.An existing informal dirt and gravel parking area was enlarged with more gravel,to
accommodate approximately 8 cars; it is located to the southeast, about 40 feet from the house.The
gravel drive then continues along its traditional path to the ca. 1900 main barn.The parking area does
not detract from the appearance or setting due to its distance from the house and its lower elevation.
House: Exterior Changes:
There are two primary exterior changes since 1998: the enlargement of the original rear kitchen
building, and the removal of existing one-story rear shed additions at the south end and construction in
the same location of a new one-story kitchen and screened porch.These additions and changes were
confined to the rear, leaving the appearance of the house unchanged when viewed from the front yard.
When viewed from a distance, the enlarged addition is not readily visible from NC 57.
Kitchen Building[Photos 1,5, 7 and 81:The major change to the existing rear kitchen building
was the raising of the roof from a story-and-a-half configuration up to a full two-story gable roof
of similar pitch.This was done to create a full second story for new guest rooms and bathrooms
without having to intrude into the original structure.This included rebuilding the central
chimney of that structure.The old Italianate-style architectural elements including the cornice
brackets and paired windows in the gable ends were retained and reused as part of this work.
The overall footprint of the former kitchen building was retained.The formerly open rear porch
(that had been partially enclosed in the mid-20th century)was reconfigured as a full shed
addition across the back.The original kitchen building was joined to the rear or east wall of the
20
main house by a gable-roofed connector that ran perpendicular to the roof ridge of the kitchen
connector.This was also raised to a full two story height,to join the second floor of the main
house with the second floor of the rear guest room addition.
New Kitchen Addition and Screened Porch(Photo 71: on the east side,at the south end, an
existing one-story shed-roofed addition of several construction periods in the 20th century was
replaced by a new one story kitchen structure covered by a very low-pitched gable roof,with a
screened porch extending along its south elevation.This provided space for a new kitchen
suitable for food preparation for guests without intruding into the original portion of the house.
Smokehouse/food storage room(Photos 7 and 81: At the rear stands the 19th century two-room
structure called the "combination smokehouse/food storage room" in the National Register
nomination.This structure remains in place on its original stone foundation. It retains its original
weatherboard siding and two board and batten doors. Changes made in 2001 consist of:
building a low gable roof structure creating a covered breezeway to connect the rear of the
main house, and adding simple wood windows to the side elevations.This work was done as
part of a project to convert this structure to serve as an office and workroom for the bed and
breakfast operation.A small wood deck was added to connect this structure to the rear door of
the rear addition, providing a walking platform and small sitting area.
New French Doors at South Elevation(Photo 6/: On the south elevation of the main house, at
the first floor level,the original paired window sashes were removed and replaced with French-
type doors that open out into the side yard of the house.The original window surround
assembly,with its pair of arches, was retained in place above the doors.
House: Interior Changes:
No significant changes were made to the interior of the original main structure at the time of the
renovation.All historic finishes and architectural elements described in the 1998 National Register
nomination were carefully preserved and restored during the 2001 renovation work.The large center
hall retains its handsome curved staircase,doors, and ornamental patterned beaded board wall
treatments on both floors.The two main rooms on the first floor retain the original mantels, diagonal
beaded board wainscoting, molded surrounds, and four panel doors.The second floor rooms were
likewise restored and retain all original beaded board wall and ceiling treatments. Original wood floors
were refinished or painted.
Outbuildings [Photo 31:
The existing ca. 1900 barn, called the "main barn" in the nomination,was repaired with some new
structural timbers and remains in good condition.The non-contributing structures mentioned in the
nomination also remain standing:the board and batten garage was enclosed and converted into a
modern dwelling unit;the mid-20th century concrete block pump house was painted and repaired but
remains largely unchanged.The log tobacco barn remains standing but is heavily overgrown.
21
Property Boundary Proposed for Local Designation [Photo 121:
The National Register boundary includes the entire 47 acre parcel that the house presently stands on.
The proposed landmark boundary defines a smaller parcel of approximately 8-9 acres,to take in the
property around the house, extending out to the barn, as shown in the attached aerial photo showing
the parcel boundary as per the Orange County GIS web site.This will include all the road frontage of the
property along NC 57, as well as adequate land behind the house, but not the entire farm.As drawn,this
will include the main barn and the old tobacco barn.The goal of this proposed boundary is to protect
the land around the house and barns, and to maintain the historic views from NC 57.
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Dr. Arch Jordan House: Location Map showing house
located at 7015 NC 57, in the Caldwell community, Little
River Township
27
Attachment 3
Orange County
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Approved Meeting Summary
September 27th, 2017
Old Orange County Courthouse
106 East King Street, Hillsborough
MEMBERS PRESENT: Todd Dickinson, Bob Ireland, Art Menius, Allie Mead
MEMBERS ABSENT: Tom Loter, Jaime Grant
STAFF PRESENT: Peter Sandbeck GUESTS: None
ITEM #1: CALL TO ORDER
Chair Dickinson called the meeting to order at 7:07 pm.
ITEM #2: CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO AGENDA: None
ITEM #3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES for July 26th, 2017 (Attachment 1): Menius moved to
approve the minutes, seconded by Ireland; motion approved.
ITEM #4: SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARING: Chair Dickinson opened the Special Public Hearing to
receive public comment and input on the proposed National Register nomination for the
Efland Home, also known as the North Carolina Industrial Home for Colored Children, just
west of Efland, in Cheeks Township. Dickinson explained that this hearing is being held in
compliance with the requirements for our status as a Certified Local Government. No
public comment was offered. Dickinson asked HPC members if they wished to comment.
Members expressed support for the nomination. The Chair closed the Public Hearing.
Menius offered the following motion: "The HPC has reviewed and discussed the
nomination for the Efland Home and finds that the property meets Criteria A as required
for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, as stated in Section 8 of the
nomination. The HPC recommends that the property be submitted for listing in the
Register and authorizes the chair to sign the recommendation letters to the SHPO and the
BOCC." This motion was seconded by Mead; motion carried. Members discussed the
possibility of this becoming a local landmark. The owners are presently not interested but
staff was directed to pursue that further.
ITEM #5: ITEMS FOR DECISION:
a. Recommendation letter for National Register Nomination for the Efland Home,
to be conveyed to BOCC. Members approved having the chair sign this letter
of recommendation in the motion in Item 4 above.
b. Endorsement of Local Landmark Application for the Dr. Arch Jordan House to
initiate the SHPO mandatory review process. Members discussed the
landmark process for this property. Ireland offered the following motion to
recommend the property to the BOCC:
The HPC finds the Dr. Arch Jordan House possesses special significance to
Orange County in terms of its historical, architectural and cultural importance,
1
28
and accepts the owner's application and designation report, for the following
reasons:
1. It possesses special architectural significance as one of the best preserved
and most stylish examples of the Italianate Style in rural Orange County. It
retains a high degree of architectural integrity as its many important
architectural features survive in place.
2. It possesses special historical significance for its association with Dr.
Archibald Currie Jordan, a leading medical doctor for the northeastern
portion of the county and a founder, trustee and teacher at the nearby
Caldwell Institute. The house subsequently served as the center of the
area's traditional Presbyterian congregations, from 1905-1929.
3. It possesses integrity of design, setting, workmanship, materials, feeling
and association. It stands in a rural setting in open farmland, shaded by
large mature oaks. It retains several period outbuildings that help convey its
history as the centerpiece of a once-active farm complex.
4. The landmark designation report should include an appropriate portion of
the surrounding farmland to provide a protected rural setting for the house.
This should include the existing smokehouse and c. 1900 barn.
This motion was seconded by Menius; motion carried.
ITEM #6: DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Scheduling and logistics for joint public hearing with the BOCC for local
landmark application Dr. Arch Jordan House (Caldwell vic): Staff explained the
upcoming timeline for the landmark process. The report will be sent to the SHPO for
their mandatory review process, which takes 30 days. We will schedule a joint public
hearing with the BOCC for late November or early December. We will need a quorum
for that hearing so staff will coordinate to make sure at least four members can be
present. We want to complete this process in this calendar year so that the property
owner can apply for the property tax deferral.
b. Landmark Evaluation Exercise: John Kirkland House, Old 86:
Staff provided a PowerPoint program showing exterior and interior views of the house,
and reviewed its architectural features. Two log barns survive in good condition; one
dates to the 1850s period of construction while the other is about 1900; there is a log
corncrib hidden in a thicket. Members discussed the property and completed
evaluation forms. Scores ranged from 58 to 68.5. The property scored high due to its
integrity as a vernacular antebellum farmhouse. It is located in an area where there
are high development pressures, making it endangered.
c. Membership:
Current status of membership was discussed. Grant has decided to resign and has
sent an email to that effect. Members reviewed the current applications. Members felt
that Mr. Stephen Peck was the best qualified candidate. He has done excellent work
developing tours of local historic sites, including the Old Courthouse and other tours
for the Alliance. Menius moved to recommend Mr. Peck to the BOCC to serve in our
vacant position; seconded by Ireland; motion carried.
ITEM #6: UPDATES AND INFORMATION ITEMS
a. Book update: Staff has negotiated with Laura Phillips to undertake the writing
project. We will contract with her to undertake an initial review and assessment of all
of our existing book materials. She brings an extensive amount of experience,
2
29
background and credibility to the project. At the end of Phase I, she will present a
detailed evaluation with a schedule, budget and series of recommendations for us, to
guide us through the writing project. She wishes to have input into the selection of the
properties. This should all happen during October and November. Now that we are
getting this into the hands of a skilled person, the project can move forward. The
HPC's job can now be to focus on raising funds and providing guidance and support.
Members were unanimous in their support for proceeding to contract with Ms. Phillips.
b. Open air time for other new information: No items tonight.
ITEM #7: ADJOURNMENT: Menius moved to adjourn, seconded by Dickinson; meeting adjourned
at 8:50 pm
Meeting summary by Peter Sandbeck, DEAPR staff
3
Attachment 4 30
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North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
State Historic Preservation Office
Ramona M.Bartos,Administrator
Governor Roy Cooper Office of Archives and History
Secretary Susi H.Hamilton Deputy Secretary Kevin Cherry
November 14, 2017
Peter Sandbeck
Orange County Natural and Cultural Resources Division
P.O. Box 8181
Hillsborough, NC 27278
RE: Landmark Designation Report for the Dr. Arch Jordan House, 7015 NC 57, Caldwell vicinity,
Orange County
Dear Mr. Sandbeck:
Thank you for the report for the Dr. Arch Jordan House located at 7015 NC 57 in the vicinity of
Caldwell.We have reviewed the information in the report and offer the following comments in accordance
with North Carolina General Statute 160A-400.4.
The Dr. Arch Jordan House is the best-preserved and most stylish example of the Italianate style in rural
Orange County. It is also locally significant due to its associations with the practice of medicine in rural
Orange County, the rural economy, and the Presbyterian Church in Caldwell. The house, built ca. 1875, for
Dr. Archibald Currie Jordan, is an ornate, center hall, single-pile, two-story frame house with Italianate
detailing. Dr. Jordan contributed greatly to the largely isolated, rural community of Caldwell and its vital
institutions. He served as the community's physician at the house from 1881-1906 and as a teacher, trustee,
and financial supporter of the Caldwell Institute. He and his brother opened the Jordan Brothers' Store, a
general store/pharmacy across the street from the house that provided local residents with goods and
prescriptions. In Caldwell, like many rural communities, church served as a central social institution and
by 1904, the house was used as a manse for three local Presbyterian Churches. The building retains a good
level of material integrity with all original wood siding, wood window sashes and trim, cornices with sawn
eave brackets, front porch components, doors and original louvered blinds. Changes are confined to the
rear of the house, including the enlargement of the original kitchen and addition of a new one-story rear
kitchen and screen porch. The house also retains several outbuildings including a contributing ca. 1900
main barn and log tobacco barn. We believe the local designation report provides sufficient information for
the Orange County Historic Preservation Commission and the local governing board to determine if the Dr.
Arch Jordan House has the requisite special significance and integrity for landmark designation.
Please note, the property may contain archaeological resources associated with the house or outbuildings.
Care should be taken to avoid inadvertent damage or destruction of these resources during any ground
disturbing activities.
Landmark designation means the community recognizes a property as an important historic resource
worthy of preservation. Any substantial exterior design changes to a designated landmark are subject to the
Location:109 East Jones Street,Raleigh NC 27601 Mailing Address:4617 Mail Service Center,Raleigh NC 27699-4617 Telephone/Fax:(919)807-6570/807-6599
31
design review procedures of the Orange County Historic Preservation Commission. The owner may apply
for an annual deferral of fifty percent of the property taxes for as long as the property is designated and
retains significance and integrity.
If the local governing board wishes to extend the Commission's design review authority to significant
features of the interior, the owner must give written consent. The designation ordinance must specify the
features and describe the nature of the Commission's design review authority over them.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to comment on the report. Our comments are advisory only and are
not binding. Once the governing board has received a recommendation from the Orange County Historic
Preservation Commission and has proceeded in the same manner as would otherwise be required for an
amendment to the zoning ordinance, the governing board may proceed with the designation decision. Once
the designation decision has been made,please return the completed designation confirmation form,
enclosed.
This letter serves as our comments on the proposed landmark designation of the Dr. Arch Jordan House.
Please contact me at 919-807-6575 should you have any questions about our comments.
Sincerely,
Ay Wrcli)Lc2
Amber E. Kidd
Local Preservation Commissions /CLG Coordinator
CC: Commission Chair
Enclosure
32
Attachment 5
AN ORDINANCE OF THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE
DR. ARCH JORDAN HOUSE
IN ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
AS A LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
Whereas, all of the prerequisites to the adoption of this ordinance prescribed in Part 3C,
Article 19, Chapter 160A (Historic Districts and Landmarks) of the General Statutes of North
Carolina and an Ordinance Creating the Historic Preservation Commission of Orange County
(the "Historic Preservation Ordinance")have been met; and
Whereas, the Orange County Board of Commissioners has taken into full consideration
all statements and information in the application and the designation report prepared by the
Orange County Historic Preservation Commission and presented to the Board of County
Commissioners on the 4 ' day of December, 2017, on the question of designating the property
known as the Dr. Arch Jordan House as a historic landmark; and
Whereas, the property known as the Dr. Arch Jordan House, located in the Caldwell
community in Little River Township in the County of Orange and more particularly described in
Exhibit A attached hereto, is significant as one of the County's best preserved late 19th century
Italianate Style farmhouses; and
Whereas, the original house constructed c. 1875 retains a high degree of architectural
integrity, with most of its original historic exterior and interior features still preserved, along
with a significant historic smokehouse and barn, all in an intact rural setting; and
Whereas, the Dr. Arch Jordan House was built for Dr. Archibald Currie Jordan, a leading
medical doctor for the northeastern portion of the county and a founder, trustee and teacher at the
nearby Caldwell Institute. The house subsequently served as the Manse for the area's important
Presbyterian congregations from 1905 to 1929.
Whereas, the Orange County Historic Preservation Commission has recognized the
historic, architectural and cultural significance of the property known as the Dr. Arch Jordan
House and has recommended that the property be designated a"historic landmark" as outlined in
33
Article 3 of the Orange County Historic Preservation Ordinance; and
Whereas, the State Historic Preservation Office, an agency of the Office of Archives and
History of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, has reviewed and
commented on the findings of the Orange County Historic Preservation Commission, and has
approved the Dr. Arch Jordan House for designation as a local historic landmark;
Now, therefore, be it ordained by the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County,
North Carolina that:
Section 1. The property known as the Dr. Arch Jordan House, located in Little River
Township, Orange County, North Carolina jurisdictional area, consisting of approximately 8
acres more particularly described in Exhibit B, is hereby designated a historic landmark pursuant
to Part 3C, Article 19, Chapter 160A of the General Statutes of North Carolina and the Orange
County Historic Preservation Ordinance.
Section 2. The owner(s) and occupant(s) of the property known as the Dr. Arch Jordan
House be given notice of this ordinance as required by applicable law, and that copies of this
ordinance be filed and indexed in the office of the County Clerk, Orange County Register of
Deeds, Orange County Tax Supervisor and Orange County Department of Environment,
Agriculture, Parks and Recreation, as required by the applicable law.
Section 3. In accordance with Part 3C, Article 19, Chapter 160A of the General Statutes
of North Carolina and the Orange County Historic Preservation Ordinance, the exterior and site
features of all historic landmarks are always under the purview of the Historic Preservation
Commission's Certificate of Appropriateness provisions. In the case of Dr. Arch Jordan House,
the site features include: the historic smokehouse built ca. 1875 and the barn, built ca. 1900. The
HPC shall determine Certificates of Appropriateness for the Dr. Arch Jordan House based on the
HPC's approved design standards, with reference to the designation ordinance, the application
materials and the designation report.
Section 4. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed
to the extent of such conflict with this ordinance.
Section 5. Any part of this ordinance determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to
be in violation of any law or constitutional provision shall be deemed severable and shall not
affect the validity of the remainder.
Section 6. This ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
34
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does
hereby officially designate the Dr. Arch Jordan House as an Orange County Local
Historic Landmark.
This the 12th day of December, 2017.
, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Attest
Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board
35
EXHIBIT A
The Dr. Arch Jordan House, located at 7015 NC 57, Little River Township, is referenced in
Orange County Land Records as Parcel Identification Number(PIN) 9898445102, containing
47.17 acres more or less. Only that portion of this parcel containing the historic house,
smokehouse and historic barn is being designated, consisting of approximately 8 acres as shown
in Exhibit B. The property is owned by Elizabeth Davidson, 7015 NC 57, Rougemont, NC
27572.
36
EXHIBIT B . Pecritt: :'-' 1111)6111.4 -H," .. Li* I
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Eti Portion of property being ,� , A V*.. �, '
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1`$ ;>. designation '' 7t4Y"
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Dr. Arch Jordan House Landmark Boundary ,. '''= "',.
- Proposed boundary for historic landmark status ' �s
'i t is shown inside yellow lines,totaling M,� � r"
'`-', t `; acres.This is a portion of the larger parcel of L{� "
a_ 47.17 acres,shown outlined in red. 1 'j "."/
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