Palmer-Marsh House facts for kids
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Palmer-Marsh House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Palmer-Marsh House in 1962
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main St., S of NC 92, Bath, North Carolina |
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| Area | 1.6 acres (0.65 ha) |
| Built | 1744 |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| Part of | Bath Historic District (ID70000437) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000439 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 26, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | April 15, 1970 |
| Designated CP | February 26, 1970 |
The Palmer-Marsh House is a very old and important house located in Bath, North Carolina. It was built way back in 1744, making it one of the oldest homes still standing in North Carolina! This house is special because it's a great example of a large colonial town house that even had a shop built right into it.
In 1970, the Palmer-Marsh House was recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Today, it is a North Carolina state historic site, which means it's protected and open for people to visit and learn about history. You can even take tours inside!
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Exploring the Palmer-Marsh House
The Palmer-Marsh House stands in the middle of Bath, on the east side of South Main Street. It's easy to spot, just south of where Main Street meets Carteret Street.
What the House Looks Like
The house is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and its outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboard siding. The bottom part of the house, its foundation, is made of brick.
The front of the house faces south and has seven sections, with the main door right in the middle. There are also other doors on the sides of the house. The door on the side facing the street opens into a very large room that goes all the way through the house. This room was once used as a shop!
Inside the Historic Home
When you step inside, you can still see some of the original parts of the house. The floors are made of wide pine wood, and you can even see the wooden beams that support the house. These features help us imagine what life was like hundreds of years ago.
History of the Palmer-Marsh House
The Palmer-Marsh House has a long and interesting past, with many different owners and uses over the centuries.
Who Built This Old House?
The house was built in 1744 by a person named Michael Coutanch. He designed the large room on the western side of the house to be a shop. Imagine buying goods there almost 300 years ago!
Early Uses and Important Meetings
Besides being a shop, this large room is also believed to have been a meeting place for the colonial legislature. This was like the government meeting place for the colony of North Carolina back then.
Important People Who Lived Here
In the 1760s, a man named Robert Palmer bought the house. He was an important person who worked for the king as the "royal collector of the port," meaning he collected taxes on goods coming into the port. He was also part of the governor's council, which helped the governor make decisions.
Later, in 1802, two brothers named Jonathan and Daniel Gould Marsh bought the house. Their family owned it for a very long time, until 1915. That's why the house is called the Palmer-Marsh House today!
Becoming a Museum for Everyone
From 1960 to 1962, a group called Historic Bath worked to fix up and restore the house. In 1963, they gave the house to the state of North Carolina. Since then, the Palmer-Marsh House has been a museum, allowing visitors to step back in time and learn about colonial life.
See also
