Wood Lawn, Federal-Greek Revival plantation house in Mount Mourne, North Carolina.
Wood Lawn is a Federal-Greek Revival plantation house built around 1840 in Mount Mourne, North Carolina. The two-story residence contains eight rooms, each with a fireplace and mantle, connected by central hallways that feature detailed architectural elements throughout.
Dr. George Washington Stinson, one of Davidson College's founding trustees, built the house around 1840 near the newly established college. The structure reflects the early residential development that accompanied the institution's founding in the region.
The house became a gathering place for Davidson College students, who were drawn there because Dr. Stinson permitted square dancing at a time when the local Presbyterian community discouraged such activities. It served as a social outlet that defied the stricter customs of the surrounding area.
The building was renovated in 2003 and now functions as Stinson Hall, serving as the administrative center for Woodlawn School. Visitors can observe the 19th-century architecture within an active school setting.
The most distinctive feature is the two-and-a-half-story staircase with a walnut spiral-turned handrail that was imported from Charleston, South Carolina during the 1840s. This detailed craftsmanship reveals the connections between wealthy homes of that era and the trade networks bringing fine materials from distant cities.
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