Kenansville Historic District - Kenansville, NC
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 34° 57.643 W 077° 57.913
18S E 229247 N 3872703
Eleven scattered Greek Revival houses, and two
Greek Revival churches, form the framework and set the dignified architectonic character of the historic district.
Waymark Code: WM1003C
Location: North Carolina, United States
Date Posted: 01/31/2019
Views: 1
County of district: Duplin County
Location of district: Bostic and Stokes Sts., Stokes St from S. Main St. to Seminary St., Kenansville
Listed: 2001
Architectural Style: Greek Revival
"The town plan of Kenansville, laid off in 1818, consisted of a central
square containing the courthouse, two streets-~Main Street and Cross Street-·
which intersected the square, and eight lots bordering the square. This
grid plan has not survived.. .. The present amorphous street plan of Kenansville
resembling a hub with spokes, is the result of building along the roads which
radiate out from courthouse square to other county settlements; thus no distinct division exists between· the town and country houses. The freestanding
houses located on the radiating streets are surrounded by spacious wooded
grounds, and resemble farm houses more than tovm houses in character. The
historic district comprises approximately sixty per cent of the town area.
The commercial fabric of the district, which consists predominantly of early
twentieth century row buildings, is concentrated in the block immediately
east of the courthouse. Only a few scattered commercial buildings intrude
upon the semi-rural residential and institutional character of the remainder
of the historic district, which is dominated by the Greek Revival style,
reflecting the 1840-1861 boom era of the town.
"Only one building predating the Greek Revival period has survived--the
Brown-Jones House (1), a one-story frame house of Federal style (south side
of Routledge Street, N.C. 24, behind the Baptist Church). Although remodeled
during the Greek Revival period, most of the original exterior fabric and
the original interior fabric of one room remains. The Brown-Jones House is
covered with plain siding and pierced with nine-over-nine sash windows with
molded architraves. Boxed cornices and beaded raking cornices ornament the
eaves, a steep gable roof caps the structure, and at each gable end is an
exterior end single-shoulder chimney of brick laid in irregular common bond.
A delicate Federal mantel, flush-sheathed dado, molded chair rail, plaster
walls, doors containing six flat panels, and interior transoms are remnants
of the original interior finish." ~ NRHP Nomination Form