Alston-DeGraffenried Plantation facts for kids
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Alston-DeGraffenried Plantation
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | West of Pittsboro off U.S. 64; also the northern side of U.S. Route 64, 0.4 miles (0.64 km) west of its junction with NC 1564, near Pittsboro, North Carolina |
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| Built | ca. 1810-1825 |
| Architect | Broome, Meleus |
| Architectural style | Georgian, Federal, Federal vernacular |
| NRHP reference No. | 93001132 (original) 74001339 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 18, 1974 (original) |
| Boundary increase | October 21, 1993 (boundaries increased) |
The Alston-DeGraffenried Plantation is a historic property in Chatham County, North Carolina, near Pittsboro, North Carolina. It includes a large house and the fields around it. This house was built between about 1810 and 1825. It was constructed by enslaved people who were forced to work there.
This property is very important historically. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This is a special list of places in the United States that are worth protecting. The area recognized as historic was made larger in 1993. The house and its land are now known as a national historic district. This means it's a special area with many historical buildings.
What's at the Plantation?
The Alston-DeGraffenried historic district has several important buildings and areas. These include the main house, which is the biggest building. There was also a separate kitchen building. Other structures included a pig boiling pit and two different privies (outhouses).
You would also find a smokehouse for preserving meat. There was a corn crib for storing corn. A small barn and a well shelter were also part of the property. All these buildings and the surrounding land tell a story about life long ago.
The Main House
The main house is a two-story building. It has five sections across the front. It was built in a style that mixes Georgian and Federal designs. These styles were popular when the United States was a new country.
The house sits on a raised basement made of brick. It has a tall, sloped roof. Later on, a wide porch was added to the front. Several smaller rooms were also added to the back of the house.
Who Built It?
The house was built for Delia Alston. Her father, Joseph John "Chatham Jack" Alston, had it constructed. He was a very wealthy landowner in the area. He also owned many enslaved people. He built this house for Delia when she married John Baker DeGraffenried.
Joseph John Alston built six homes for his children. He was one of the biggest landowners in the region at the time. He also built another nearby historic home called Aspen Hall.
