Harmony Hall (White Oak, North Carolina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Harmony Hall
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | W of White Oak on SR 1351, near White Oak, North Carolina |
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| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000925 |
| Added to NRHP | March 24, 1972 |
Harmony Hall Plantation is a really old house located in White Oak, Bladen County. It's one of the oldest homes in all of North Carolina!
Contents
The Story of Harmony Hall
Harmony Hall was built in the late 1700s. A man named Colonel James Richardson built it. He moved to Bladen County before the American Revolutionary War. Colonel Richardson received a lot of land for being a soldier. Some of this land was a gift from King George III. This was because of his brave service with General James Wolfe during the French and Indian War.
Colonel Richardson first became interested in this area after a shipwreck. He and his brother were shipwrecked near Cape Hatteras. They had to spend several months in Bladen County fixing their ship. Colonel Richardson really liked the land there. After getting his land grant, he built Harmony Hall. It was about 12 miles (19 km) from Elizabethtown. It was also only about 1-mile (1.6 km) from the Cape Fear River.
What the House Looks Like
The house is made of wood and has two stories. It has a special roof style called a gable roof. There are also two-story porches, which are called galleries. The house has a tall foundation with holes for air. Outside stairs lead from the second floor up to the attic. Inside, some walls have wide pine boards. Some parts are plastered above a wooden panel called a dado. The fireplaces have fancy designs called Adam designs.
During the Revolutionary War
Soon after building his home, Colonel James Richardson was captured. This happened during the American Revolutionary War. He was released on a promise not to fight again, which is called being paroled. But when he heard that many British soldiers broke their promises, he did too! He rejoined the American Army to keep fighting for freedom.
Harmony Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This means it's an important historical site.
The Cornwallis Legend: Fact or Fiction?
There's a cool local story about Harmony Hall. People used to say that General Cornwallis used the house as his headquarters. This was during his march to Wilmington, North Carolina. The legend says that one night, he and his officers were planning their war strategy. They were in an upstairs bedroom. Mrs. Richardson supposedly crept up the outside stairs. She listened through a hole in the ceiling. She heard all their secret plans!
After hearing the plans, she quickly went downstairs. She sent the plantation overseer to warn General Greene. The story claims this warning helped General Greene defeat Cornwallis.
What Really Happened?
Historians have looked closely at this story. They found that General Cornwallis did march close to Harmony Hall. But he was always on the other side of the Cape Fear River. There is no proof that he ever crossed the river to the house. So, the main part of the legend is probably not true.
However, it's possible that the Richardson ladies moved during the war. They might have met General Cornwallis somewhere else. But there's no way to know for sure. It's still a fun story to imagine!
After the War: New Owners
Harmony Hall stayed with the Richardson family for many years. Colonel James's grandson, Captain Edmund Richardson, moved to Texas. He sold the house in 1865. In 1874, the Layton family bought it. They owned Harmony Hall until 1962.
In 1962, N. Arthur Layton Jr. gave the property to the Bladen County Historical Society. He did this to honor his parents and Colonel James A. Richardson. Today, a non-profit group takes care of Harmony Hall. It's called the Harmony Hall Plantation Village Foundation. They work hard to keep the house and grounds in good condition.
Exploring the Property
Besides the main house, there are other buildings at Harmony Hall. These include a schoolhouse and two old country stores. There's also a chapel, a corn crib, and an outdoor kitchen. You can also see a log cabin and a gatehouse. These buildings were moved here from other places and fixed up. There's also a small house called the Wanda Campbell Cottage.
A short distance across the river is the Purdie-Richardson family cemetery. Even though it's close, this cemetery is no longer part of the Harmony Hall property.
