Carson House (Marion, North Carolina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Carson House
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1805 Highway 70 West Marion, North Carolina |
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| Area | 9.07 acres (3.67 ha)( Including Round Hill Cemetery) |
| Built | c. 1793 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000843 |
| Added to NRHP | September 15, 1970 |
The Carson House is a very old house and a museum in Marion, North Carolina. It used to be the home of Colonel John Hazzard Carson. When McDowell County was first created in 1842, the Carson House even served as its courthouse!
Contents
A Look Inside the Carson House
Building a Historic Home
The Carson House was built in 1793. This makes it one of the oldest buildings still standing in Marion. It was built using huge walnut logs. These logs came from a nearby place called Buck Creek. The house has three stories and was part of a large plantation.
The Gold Rush and a New County
Between 1804 and 1827, the area around the Carson House was famous for gold. Many people came hoping to find gold and get rich. This was even before the big California Gold Rush of 1849.
In 1843, an important meeting happened at the Carson House. People met there to officially create McDowell County. This new county was made from parts of Burke and Rutherford counties. The county was named after Colonel Joseph McDowell. He was a hero from the American Revolution at the Battle of King's Mountain.
At first, people wanted the county's main town to be near the Carson House. But the Carson family decided to give 50 acres of land a few miles east instead. This land became the county seat.
A Hub for Famous Visitors
For many years, the Carson House was a busy place. It was a stop for stagecoaches and a popular social spot. Many important people visited the house. These visitors included Davy Crockett, Sam Houston, and Andrew Jackson. It's said that Andrew Jackson even lost money betting on horse races at the Carson Plantation.
Another interesting person who lived in Marion was Dan Kanipe. He was one of only two survivors from General Custer's group in the Battle of Little Bighorn. For a while, Dan Kanipe lived at the Carson House too.
Preserving History
In the late 1800s, John Seawell Brown bought the property. His family, for three generations, helped keep the house safe and preserved. John Seawell Brown was a state senator in North Carolina. He played a big part in creating McDowell County.
The Carson House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. This list helps protect important historical places.
After a lot of work to fix it up, the house opened to the public in 1964. Today, it is a museum and a library. The Carson House has a special collection of old books and family histories. The Mary M. Greenlee Genealogical Research and History Room has been there since the 1970s. It keeps adding more historical records. The Carson House is also part of the NC Civil War Trails Program.
About John Hazzard Carson
John "Hazzard" Carson was a soldier during the American Revolution. He served in the North Carolina militia. Here are some of the roles he had during the war:
- In March 1776, he joined as an ensign in the 2nd Rowan County Regiment.
- In 1776, he was a Forage Master, helping get supplies for soldiers.
- He was a volunteer in Captain William Moore's company.
- He took part in the Cross Creek Expedition in 1776.
- On July 3, 1776, he was in a small fight against Native Americans.
- In 1777, he was involved in actions against the Cherokee.
- In 1778, he served under Captain Joseph McDowell. Later, John Carson married Joseph McDowell's widow.
- In 1781, he was again a Forage Master.
- In 1782, he was a paymaster for the Burke County Regiment.
He may have become a colonel after the Revolutionary War ended.
