Somerset Building, Lake Phelps, NC - 1800 Architecture

This vintage photograph captures a historical building located in Lake Phelps, Tyrrell County, North Carolina, known as Somerset. Constructed around 1800, Somerset served multiple purposes, including functioning as a grainery. The architectural design reflects the characteristics of early Southern plantation homes, notable for its distinctive portico.

The image is part of the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South, which aimed to document and preserve significant architectural works in the region. This particular photograph was credited to Frances Benjamin Johnston, a prominent photographer known for her contributions to American architectural history.

Published in Thomas Tileston Watermans book, The Early Architecture of North Carolina, in 1941, this image serves as an important record of the states architectural heritage. It highlights the unique features of early North Carolina homes and contributes to the understanding of the regions historical landscape.