Duke House

Duke House is a one-and-a-half-story residence featuring high-quality interior woodwork with a paneled chimneypiece and built-in corner cupboards throughout. The main house is accompanied by a workshop building and an early 20th-century kitchen wing that extends the original structure.

The residence was built around 1792 for Cleavers Duke Sr. as a family home. By the mid-1800s it had transformed from a general farm into a tobacco plantation, reflecting shifts in regional agriculture and commerce.

A small cemetery on the grounds holds historic grave markers that reflect how early settlers honored their dead in this region. The burial site offers insight into the family ties and community practices that shaped daily life here.

This property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which provides legal protection and preservation incentives for the owners. Visitors should check ahead about access and visiting hours, as privately owned historic homes may have limited public viewing times.

In addition to the main house, several outbuildings remain on the property that offer clues about how a working plantation actually operated. The workshop building and these separate structures provide a rare glimpse into the practical side of plantation life beyond the residence itself.