From The Archives

Tyson Home History

The Tyson House, one of the county’s most stylish early dwellings, stands at the center of the historic village of Carbonton NC. Documentary and architectural evidence suggests that the house was built by the Tyson Family before 1805. Cornelius Tyson, Sr. (1722-94 or -95), acquired the land on which the on which the house stands in 1765 and had apparently built a dwelling on the property by the time of his death.

Aaron Tyson (1760-1805) inherited the property from his father and either occupied his father ‘s house or built anew. With his brother, Benjamin Tyson, Aaron acquired the Connor Dowd Mill at Carbonton in 1791, and with Archibald McBryde and Murdock McKenzie he operated the Aaron Tyson & Company store, an important early business in the region. (The Moore county census schedules describe Tyson’s Store as “one of the most public places in the county”.)

The Tyson house was purchased about 1820 by Isaac Roberts, who later willed it to his daughter, Mary Chalmers Robert Hayes, wife of William A. Hayes

The original framed house was a two story dwelling with two tired front porch. In 1950 the second story was partially removed and made into a garret, and the house was given a new roof with a front shed dormer and engaged front porch that disguised it as a Craftsman bungalow. Original exterior features remain however most notably the five bay front elevation, with its nine-over-nine sash windows and the Flemish-bond brick chimney on the south gable end, with its paved double shoulders and diamond motif formed by glazed headers.

Considerably more original fabric survived on the hall parlor plan interior. The hall features a paneled wainscot and Georgian-styled mantel with simple architrave fireplace surrounded and paneled over-mantel. A portion of the paneled over-mantel survives in the parlor, although the fireplace in that room was removed. Another notable feature is a winder stairs that rises from a rear shed room. The stairs have delicate beaded and faceted newels with globe finials, molded and beaded handrails and close-set turned balusters.

The renovation work on the home was begun by the Woolard Family in early 1990 and was completed in 2006. The home stands today in as complete a restoration and modernization as possible to meet historical and livability needs of today’s or tomorrow owners.