Alexander Long House, Heritage house in Spencer, North Carolina, United States
The Alexander Long House is a residential dwelling in Spencer, North Carolina, featuring seven fireplaces, two large double-shouldered brick chimneys, and a granite foundation supporting a four-story wooden frame structure. The property encompasses 18 acres of maintained gardens, a three-acre spring-fed bass pond, and 15 acres of woods with walking paths.
The house was built around 1783 as a plantation residence for Alexander Long, who operated a ferry service across the Yadkin River approximately one mile east of the property. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
The residence displays Flemish-bond brickwork on its chimneys, marked with the original owner's initials and decorative heart patterns. These details reflect personal craftsmanship that visitors notice when walking around the property.
The property is easily explored on foot and offers walking paths through wooded and maintained areas. Visitors should know that the entire estate is larger than it first appears and comfortable shoes are recommended.
The property is the only known example in North Carolina of New England-style Flemish-bond brickwork, an unusual regional distinction. This rare construction technique sets it apart from other houses of its era and reveals an unexpected architectural influence from the North.
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