#2 - The ARENDELL HOUSE  circa 1847 - Beaufort, NC

In 1828 Belcher Fuller willed lot #75 Old Town to his daughter Mary Leecraft.  Thomas Noe sold it to the Guthrie family in 1874.  From that time to the present, members of, or descendants of, the Guthrie family have occupied the home.  Mildred Holland lived in this home for many years, until her death. Her husband was well-known Sheriff of Carteret County and the son of Mrs Hannah Guthrie Holland.  In the late 1800’s, there was a millinery shop on the east side. Built exclusively with wooden peg construction, the structure retains the original stairs and variable width pine floors.





 

#3 - The BELCHER FULLER HOUSE  circa 1851 - Beaufort, NC

Built in Greek Revival style, this charming home has features from Asher Benjamin’s books on architecture. It was altered for housing during WWII, but changes did not destroy the high ceilings and heart pine floors.  Records show that William Borden Jr. purchased this property in 1768, the year the William Borden House, next door, was built.  His father, William Borden, Sr., was a shipbuilder from Portsmouth, Rhode Island, who arrived in North Carolina in 1732 aboard his schooner.  The Belcher Fuller House, along with the William Borden House, is now part of The Cedars Inn.




 

This home, with its deep double porches, was said to have been a hotel during the Civil War--run by then owners Susan and David Wharton. It underwent dramatic changes during its long history--and eventually deteriorated into what appeared to be a state of disrepair. It was, however, rescued and has been beautifully restored to its original facade. During this extensive restoration, some of the still useable hand-split laths in the attic were salvaged and donated to the restoration of the Old Court House at the Beaufort Historical Site.

 

# 5 - The ALLEN DAVIS HOUSE  circa 1774 - Beaufort, NC

BURNSIDE'S HEADQUARTERS during the CIVIL WAR

The only double-plaqued house in Beaufort, this home is named for the original resident, Allen Davis, and for Major General Ambrose E. Burnside, the Union commander of North Carolina troops during the Civil War. Burnside used it as his headquarters during the Federal occupation of the area from 1861 -1873.

The home has been described as a Greek Revival enlargement of a smaller cottage, with decorative Gothic Revival porches.

#7 - The GIBBLE-DELAMAR HOUSE  circa 1866 - Beaufort, NC

Built in the Greek Revival style just after the Civil War, this was the home of Jacob Gibble, a lumber dealer.  Gibble was the first to enlarge the house mainly due to his growing family. Gibble died in 1926 and left the house to his daughter Helen.  When Helen married William Delamar the home became known as the Gibble-Delamar House, remaining in the Gibble-Delamar family for 106 years.  The artist’s recent correspondence with a female descendent revealed the fact that both her grandmother and mother were both born in the front northeast room—both named Helen like so many before.  Since 1989 it has been the Delamar Inn Bed and Breakfast.

 

#8 - The DUNCAN HOUSE  circa 1728 - Beaufort, NC

This view from the upper porch of The Duncan House looks west toward Pivers Island and Gallants Channel.  At one time this view would have shown a small fishing shack at the end of Front Street on Gallant’s Channel.  It belonged to Judge Duncan but was used by Captain Jack Willis who ferried people over to Piver’s Island.  His mantra was, “Captain Jack—take you over and bring you back.”  He was also good at forecasting the weather.  When he died Judge Duncan reclaimed the shack and appropriately named it “Happy Days.”  It was a place he cherished—to get away from the rigors of this day in court.  In 1954 Hurricane Hazel demolished the shack.  

 Read more about The Duncan House next to the horizontal image below:


 

A deed, found in the house in 2002, shows a half-acre purchase in 1728 of Lot 33 Old Town, book H-page 420. Thomas Duncan purchased it from William H. Davis with the requirement that a house be built on it in two years.   It is not clear what kind of structure was built at that time.  It is thought that part of the house seen today was built in 1790. 

This  gabled roof Bahamian-style home, with its unique position on the west end of Front Street facing Taylor’s Creek and Beaufort Inlet to the south and Gallant’s Channel and Piver’s Island to the west, has had a front-row seat to centuries of Beaufort history.  After 1839 the west end was added when Thomas Duncan III bought this house from his father-in-law, Benjamin Tucker Howland.  The lower level was used as a ship’s chandlery built using several ships’ masts as supporting pillars.  The upper level added much needed living space for Thomas and Elisha’s thirteen children. 

During the Civil War the second story porch allowed the owners to view the cannon fire at Fort Macon.  The Duncan House was the first house to be plaqued.  This view from the upper porch looks east toward Beaufort Inlet and Taylor's Creek.

#10 - The EASTON HOUSE  circa 1771 - Beaufort, NC

The builder of this Bahamian style home was Col. John Easton. He was a delegate to the Provincial Congress at Hillsboro in 1775, served in the American Revolutionary army, and led the town forces at the time of the British landing in 1782.

The home is, however, listed on the National Register of Historic Sites as the Jacob Henry House. Henry, who was an elected member of the NC Legislature in 1808, is well known for a speech he gave which helped lead the American fight for Constitutional religious freedom.

The foundation of this home is constructed of large stones which were ballasts in early sailing ships. It has been said that this home's cellar was used as a "prison" during the Civil War for Confederate soldiers captured by Federal troops at nearby Fort Macon.

#12 - The WHEATLEY HOUSE  circa 1891 - Beaufort, NC

It is interesting to imagine sitting on this charming little cottage porch in the early 1900's--witnessing the train which used to run down Broad Street--as it first brought the outside world to Beaufort. As it rumbled through this short block it would have also passed three neighborhood sundry shops which sold everything from fabric to penny candy and 5-cent sour pickles.

This cottage was built by Charley Wheatley and his wife Emily Noe after Emily's father, Benjamin R. Noe, sold them some of his adjacent property for $75. It appears that the Wheatley's built only two rooms, with 10 foot ceilings and a detached kitchen. It has evolved over the years, but is still small and quaint--with the present owner's surrounding gardens adding to its ambience.

#13 - The HAMMOCK HOUSE  circa 1700 - Beaufort, NC

If this porch could talk, it could bring to light much of the mystery and hauntedness that has surrounded it for over 300 years. Legend ties it to Blackbeard and other pirates and traders during its early years. At that time, it would have been nestled in groves of water oak, cedars, and yaupon shrubs. The banks were most likely covered with wild grapes, and tangled vines. Stories say that a path led to the back of the house from the distant, struggling settlement, which would eventually become Beaufort. At high tide, boats were tied to the front columns of this porch—towering on a hillock, twelve feet above sea level. The Hammock House was noted on many old maps as the “White House,” and stood as a landmark to guide mariners into the inlet.

#13A - The HAMMOCK HOUSE  circa 1700 - Beaufort, NC

Undoubtedly built around 1700 by ship builders who were influenced by homes seen in the West Indies, this home was constructed to endure.  It was built of Scottish heart pine and cypress, joined together by hand-hewn pegs with a massive pine beam that runs the width of the house.  The tall freestanding chimneys were constructed of English paving brick on ballast-stone foundations.

Over the centuries, this home was used for many purposes—from a residence for Beaufort’s early owners, housing for Union soldiers, to a school.  Those early owners or proprietors of the Town of Beaufort who lived in the house were Robert Turner, who had the town plotted in 1713, Richard Rustull, under whom the town incorporated, and Nathaniel Taylor, who donated the Old Burial Ground to the town.

It is said that Edward Teach, better known as “Blackbeard,” a pirate who frequented Core Sound, perhaps resided in the Hammock House when in the area.  In 1996 divers in the inlet between Shackleford Banks and Bogue Banks discovered what is believed to be Blackbeard’s ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, which sank over 300 years ago.  Artifacts continue to be brought to the surface.  They are being carefully cleaned, preserved, and displayed at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort

#14 - The HATSELL HOUSE  circa 1827 - Beaufort, NC

At sunrise on April 25, 1862, it is said that Charity Hatchel (the name later evolved to Hatsell), along with her 16 year old daughter Julia, stood with Emmeline Pigott, a confederate spy, on the south end of her upper porch to watch the shelling at Fort Macon. Charity Hatsell’s son fought at Ft. Macon during the Civil War. She and Miss Emmeline Pigott, a confederate spy, and a relation, watched the shelling of the fort from the south end of this upper porch.

Years before this Civil War event, Belcher Fuller either built this house for his daughter, Charity, for a wedding present, or willed it to her at his death in 1828.  In 1827 Charity married Andrew L. Hatchel. 

This is a typical 18^th century home with a Beaufort roofline that allowed the ocean breezes on the upper porch.  The layout is typical, with large side halls, two rooms downstairs, and two rooms upstairs.

#15 - The REV. JOHN JONES HOUSE  circa 1840 - Beaufort, NC

This federal style home was built in 1840 by the Rev. John Jones. He lived there with his wife, Susan Bell Jones, and their seven children, until he sold it for $600 in 1874 to his second son Benjamin Leecraft Jones and his wife Orpha Gibbs Jones. Benjamin Jones was a captain in the Civil War, when it is said the home was used as a hospital. Although this home boasted the first phone in town, Mrs. Jones’ fear of it caused her to have it installed outside on a post.

The exterior of this home is planked with cypress; the interior woodwork consists of heart pine, and the stair balustrade is made of solid mahogany. Crushed sea shells and hair from hemp rope make up the interiors plaster walls.

#16 - The LEECRAFT HOUSE  circa 1850 - Beaufort, NC

This Greek Revival style home has features taken from books on architecture by Asher Benjamin. His influence is seen in its wide hall, broad staircase, large rooms with high ceilings, and distinctive woodwork.




 

#17 - The MASON COTTAGE  circa 1904 - Beaufort, NC

This charming "fisherman's cottage" is typical of the style that was built in Beaufort in the early 1900's. Although the home was actually constructed in 1904 by Joseph Mason, the porch columns and balustrades were "found objects" and added at a later date.

 

#18 - The JAMES NOE HOUSE  circa 1828 - Beaufort, NC

This home is a wonderful example of loving, documented restoration. The natural wood of the porch railings continues inside with the original pine floors, which span the 26-foot width of the home. The original chimney, old beams, and windows all accentuate the charm of this sea lovers’ retreat.



 

#19 - The OWINS-BEDFORD HOUSE  circa 1730 - Beaufort, NC

This very early cottage, built in the then New Town Beaufort, gets a lot of its charm and quaintness from having been built by "rack of eye" with no use of levels or squares. William Owins, a tailor, and Thomas Bedford, a carpenter, lived and worked here. At that time there was an unobstructed view of the water, except for the long-established camelias, pomegranates, and tamarisks shrubs--which still grace its gardens. The owners have made every effort to retain the complexion and ambiance of a colonial-day home by the sea.

At one time this was the home of Miss Amy Muse, author of Granpa Was A Whaler.