Faison House
Isham R. Faison house, built in 1853. This symmetrical two-story Greek revival house, originally known as “Liberty Hall”, was built by a contractor and 5 workers at a total labor cost of $1000. The house is currently located at 701 South Main Street in Faison, NC. In 1865, the Isham R. Faison House was briefly used as a headquarters by Sherman’s Union officers during the Civil War and its march through the South.
The house is currently in a state of disrepair. The goal of this project is to renovate and restore the original historical property and existing addition. There will also be a new addition to include a visitor’s entrance and Porte Cochere, allowing passengers to enter from vehicles while protected from the weather.
Renovation Plans
There will be three phases to this restoration and renovation. These will include restoring and stabilizing the original historic house, then renovating the existing edition behind the historical home, and finally building a new addition behind and attached to the existing edition. This new addition will include an entrance for visitors, a wrap–around porch and accessibility ramp, office space for property management staff, and a Porte Cochere and raised porch. The purpose of this project is to restore this valuable community resource as a community museum, for local enrichment, and education. It will be a valuable addition to Faison, North Carolina’s historic district, cataloged by the National Register of Historic Places in January of 1997.
State Historic Preservation Office
Tradition holds that this house was built by Mr. Hines., although it is not certain whether it was built by William Hines or Enoch Hines. It was built for Mr. Isham Faison; a local planter, postmaster. and railroad agent. The house was later home to Faison’s niece, Mary Lyde Hicks Williams. She was an artist known for her depictions of plantation life. This two–story house has a center passage plan with a two–tier porch and single-story flanking wings.
Town of Faison
Historic Faison is steeped in history and tradition. The first settlers migrated here from England, France, Ireland, and Scotland and settled on land originally purchased on July 2, 1776. With the coming of the Wilmington-Weldon railroad, the little village was called Faison’s Depot, but when it was incorporated in 1882, it was officially named the Town of Faison.