The "Yellow" House
By Kyle Hickey, Nick Maness, Katelyn Tijerina
Embedded Files
Introduction
The Patrick Saint Lawrence House, also known as the “Yellow House,” was built in 1790 [1]. This house remains one of the four buildings enduring from Pittsboro’s earliest period, and is the oldest home in all of Pittsboro. The house has been physically moved to different locations in Pittsboro a number of times throughout the years. Although built during the early Federal Period, it was built in a Georgian style.
Picture of the Patrick St. Lawrence House.
Courtesy of Preservation NC.
The house possesses several significant architectural features: longleaf southern yellow pine wood, mortise and tenon timber window and door openings, and a massive and unique stair system. Additionally, the first-floor interior doors were faux finished to look like expensive imported mahogany with line inlay, and the second-floor doors looked to have a red wash that was readying the doors for a faux finish, but were never grained. All fireplaces, mantles, and chimney complexes were removed at some point after the original build date [2].
The yellow paint of the house, which led to the nickname of “Yellow House,” was not extremely common in the 18th century; it was likely a more expensive paint color and may have been used to show wealth, or in the case of the tavern, to show it was the primary tavern for Pittsborough and built for the gentry trade [3]. The house was not only a tavern, though; it also served as a home for various owners and their many personal possessions. In recent years, Ray and Janet Carney have been working with the NC State historic officials to accurately restore the tavern to its original condition.
Patrick St. Lawrence
Little is known about St. Lawrence prior to his arrival in Chatham County. There is documentation indicating that a Patrick St. Lawrence may have traveled to the Colony of Virginia from Ireland prior to 1776, and was granted a release from his indenture to serve in the Western Virginia Militia, Fincastle Virginia, during the Revolutionary War [4]. Eventually, St. Lawrence made his way to North Carolina.
He first arrived at Hickory Mountain, near present day Siler City, to be an Innkeeper at a tavern owned by Doctor James McCarroll. McCarroll died in 1777, and the first reference of Patrick St. Lawrence appears in the Orange County court records of 1783 as he handled the affairs of the deceased Dr. James McCarroll. Around 1784, St. Lawrence married McCarroll’s widow, Elizabeth [5].
St. Lawrence purchased several lots in the newly formed Town of “Pittsborough,” and served in several significant roles, including one of the town’s original commissioners, a trustee of Pittsborough Academy, and an early member of the town’s Masonic order [6]. Another task assigned to Patrick St. Lawrence that represents his status in Chatham County was the appointment to a commission to design the layout of the town of Pittsborough; the Lancaster Square plan was chosen, a popular plan of the times. The Yellow House was built on a quarter-acre, corner lot adjacent to the new courthouse town square. The lot for the Yellow House was purchased in 1786, and although it is unknown exactly when the construction started, we can assume it was between 1786 and 1792 [7].
Patrick St. Lawrence listed in the 1790 census.
Courtesy of Ancestry.com.
St. Lawrence appears on the 1790 United States Federal Census with his home listed in “Chatham, North Carolina.” The Census shows 14 members living in the household: two adult men, two women, three male children, and seven slaves [8].
Although only considered folklore, some sources speculate that St. Lawrence put efforts to build a most grandiose house in an attempt to excel over his former boss and impress his wife [9]. The house was so expensive that it contributed to St. Lawrence’s debts and his contractor went out of business.
Picture of the Patrick St. Lawrence House.
Courtesy of the Chatham Journal.
It is also believed that St. Lawrence made many bad investments and/or business decisions that caused his financial hardships and led to him fleeing the country. While it is unknown for certain what happened to St. Lawrence, a source written by Colonel John Hogan of Orange County around 1804 claims that St. Lawrence had “wasted his wife’s estate, ran away, and had died en route to the West Indies” [10]. However, there are also reports that state Patrick St. Lawrence may have returned to his homeland of Ireland to handle some family affairs.
Later Owners of the Property
Advertisement for the Patrick St. Lawrence House. Courtesy of Preservation NC.
In 1798, Robert Donaldson purchased the Yellow House when Patrick St. Lawrence’s assets were put up for sale when he left Chatham County, likely trying to escape from debtor’s prison. Robert Donaldson was a wealthy merchant and supplier of goods to many North Carolina stores and houses. Although Robert Donaldson was in full possession of the Yellow House, it is unknown if he used the house as a tavern or leased it out during the time he was the owner [11]. Later in 1806, Robert Donaldson sold the Yellow House to a man named Joseph Harmon. Unlike the previous owners of the Yellow House, Harmon specifically turned the house into a place for social gatherings and entertainment. Joseph Harmon’s Tavern not only provided food and drink, but also provided lodging and entertainment such sporting events like cockmain fights (chicken fights) that Harmon advertised and hosted. The tavern remained in operation until at least the end of the Civil War, although it was operated by several different owners of the home [12].
In 1815, Harmon sold the Yellow House to a prosperous investor named Winship Stedman. Similar to Harmon, Stedman bought the Yellow House as a business venture, since he took over control over the tavern and inn. When Stedman died in 1828, his family took up the practice of renting out the Yellow House to tenants. In 1836, Stedman’s wife sold the Yellow House to her daughter Nancy W. Poe. Sometime later, prior to the Civil War, the house was purchased by Elizabeth Ramsey Goldston who kept the inn and the tavern in operation throughout the entirety of the Civil War [13].
Advertisement for a Cockmain.
Courtesy of Ray Carney.
After the war ended, the Yellow House was transferred to Elizabeth Ramsey Goldston’s son Edward B. Ramsey. As soon as Edward B. Ramsey came into possession of the Yellow House, he sold it to Aaron G. Headen, Luther Bynum, and Mark Bynum, of the mercantile and trading firm Headen, Bynum & Co. Headen, the founder of the firm, resided in the Yellow House until his death in 1907. Following Headen’s death, the house was given to his wife, who lived in the home until it was moved to another lot [14].
Picture of the main room prior to indoor restoration.
Courtesy of Preservation NC.
It was not until 1955 that the Chatham County Board of Commissioners purchased the property for a new agricultural building. Sometime in the 1970s to 1980s, a woman named Emily T. Brower bought the house, and it once again moved to a different lot. Eventually, the house came under the ownership of Chatham County. In 2012, Ray and Janet Carney purchased the home from Preservation North Carolina with the intent of restoring it to its original 1798 appearance. The Carneys remain the current owners of the home, and are still working towards their goal to this day [15].
Moving the Yellow House
The Yellow House has been moved three times during its existence, and currently sits on its fourth foundation. The house was originally built on the northwest corner opposite of the present day courthouse.
Picture of Patrick St. Lawrence House during its relocation.
Courtesy of Preservation NC.
According to an article written by Chatham Historical Association member Fred J. Vatter, “In the 1920’s the house was moved to a lot just south of the courthouse square, and in 1957 the house was again moved a short distance to the south east at 205 South Street, Pittsboro, to make way for the expansion of the county office complex" [16]. Later, Chatham County developed plans to build a new Judicial Center behind the Historic Courthouse; therefore, the Yellow House (along with two other historic homes) was moved for a final time to its current location on Small Street in Pittsboro.
The House as a Tavern
The House as a Tavern
Picture showing the difference between table settings for the gentry versus lower class.
Courtesy of Ray Carney.
All the information discovered to date leads the owners to believe the Yellow House was never planned to be used as a house, but always as a tavern; however, because all structures of the time were known as a type of “house” (storehouse, warehouse, chickenhouse, outhouse, etc.), the word “house” has become permanently associated with the building.Historical taverns “served a multitude of purposes in colonial towns and countrysides.
They were means of direction for travelers, as well as settings where they could eat, drink, be entertained, and spend the night” [17]. According to architectural historian Daniel Maudlin, 18th century high end taverns were built in the U.S. and U.K. for primarily three reasons: to serve new roads, to provide appropriate social rooms for the local gentry, and to serve as nearby lodging to courthouses during large legal events [18].
As a tavern, the Yellow House could hold multiple people in one large space for temporary lodging, socialization, food, and drinks. The Yellow House was explicitly meant for the wealthy, upper class; it was considered a genteel establishment with high standards of clientele and decorations, services, food, and drink. Comparatively, lower class taverns would have consisted of log cabins and “grog shops” [19]. “St. Lawrence built his grand tavern in “Pittsborough” for the gentry class—no cage bar or drinking from a pewter mug—but dining at a table with fine crystal, silver utensils and linen table cloths” [20].
One of the most unique features of the home is the very rare large swing wall that hinges to the ceiling to combine the large gable end room with the large center hall to create a ball-dance, dining, or meeting room. This partition was installed to allow for a separation between a ballroom on one side of the hall and two parlors on the other side. By hoisting up and latching the partition to the ceiling, the rooms would be joined together to turn the first floor into one massive ballroom. It also provided access to the two parlors located on the opposite end of the tavern [21].
Picture showing the partition wall partially raised.
Courtesy of Ray Carney.
Current Restoration Project
Current Restoration Project
Picture of the Carneys in front of the Patrick St. Lawrence House. Courtesy of Chatham Magazine.
Ray and Janet Carney are the current owners of the Yellow House. Prior to their retirement, Ray was a carpentry teacher and Janet worked at a historical museum. The couple have been restoring homes for 30 to 40 years.
Ray and Janet Carney purchased the house in 2012 after falling in love with it while visiting friends in the area. Ray also has a brother and nieces that live in NC that also factored into their decision to buy the tavern [22]. They both live full time in the house, though when they first started the renovation project they lived elsewhere [23]. The Carneys have almost completely restored the interior since their purchase of the house in 2012, and plan to be entirely finished with the interior by April of 2022.
The house has been steadily refurbished by the Carneys in an attempt to return the house to as close to what they believe is the original 1790s appearance. They have been trying to return the house to its original state based on research that they conducted about contemporary houses that existed in the area around the same time period. According to Mr. Carney, 90% of restoration research was done working with the Architectural Division of the North Carolina State Preservation Office, which has been able to provide information and pictures of houses built in the same time period.
Hand engraving showing the date September 22, 1790. Courtesy of Ray Carney.
The reconstructed front porch with its substantial lamb tongue columns as well as all of the interior mantles came from their directions. Also, a visit from the historical architects from Colonial Williamsburg provided additional restoration information. The Carneys have worked hard to make the house historically accurate, and Mr. Carney even made reproductions of the moldings by hand using period-correct woodworking tools including wood molding planes. During the restoration, the Carneys have discovered old script from September 22, 1790 on one of the corner timbers, woodworking tools, and even silver shoe and sock buckles [24].
The process of recreating historically accurate moldings using period-correct equipment.
Courtesy of Ray Carney.
The Carneys have the goal for every detail of the house to be made as close to the original house as possible, down to the color of interior characteristics, style of stairs, doorways, and furnishings [25]. The first-floor doors were all faux finished mahogany with line inlay and have been recreated as close to the original as possible. They have been meticulous and accurate in finding the original color of the interior walls and exterior of the house to return the house to its former glory. One of the most challenging components of the restoration involves the house's original fireplaces, as they have been difficult to find. The original fireplaces and mantels were removed prior to the ownership of Emily T. Bower. The Carneys have rebuilt all the mantels with the guidance of the NC State Historical Architectural Division and the woodworking designs of the tavern; they are still trying to locate period handmade bricks from Chatham County in order to to reconstruct the masonry fireplaces-chimneys.
The Carneys are incredibly passionate about restoring the house to its original condition, but have implemented a few modern improvements as well. The couple has worked to camouflage modern amenities like electrical, plumbing, and heating components among historical elements to maintain the look of the late 18th-early 19th centuries to the highest degree possible. The kitchen has been upgraded with more modern appliances, but other furnishings in the kitchen such as the table, bowls, and decor fit the time period. It is hard to achieve the look of an old home without sacrificing modern necessities, and the balance is not easily achieved in a home that’s purpose is to house a modern family. The modern attributes of the house are restricted to the bathrooms and the kitchen, as to be as historically accurate as possible while not sacrificing some of the modern comforts [26].
Legacy
The legacy of the Yellow House is long and vast, to say the least. The house was originally used as just a residence in 1790, but then from 1806 to the end of the Civil War the home served as a place of public gathering since it was a tavern and inn under the ownership of everyone from Joseph Harmon to Elizabeth Ramsey Goldston. From that period up until now, the home has served as the residence of many people, finally falling into the hands of Ray and Janet Carney in 2012. The Carneys intend to not only continue to live in the home themselves, but also to pass it down to their children. It is truly amazing that the over two centuries old home can be restored to its original glory from all the people who have owned it and all the various purposes it has been used for throughout time!
Mr. Carney has emphasized the laborious process and perseverance necessary for historic restoration, stating: “You're never done with a historical house, because by the time you finish, you have to go back and start again, repair and paint and so on…” The community is thankful for the work the Carneys have put into such an important piece of our local history so that its legacy may live on.
Sources Cited
Sources Cited
“St. Lawrence House: ‘The Yellow House’ Update August 2016,” Chatham County Historical Association, September 12, 2021. https://chathamhistory.org/resources/Documents/PDFs/
ResearchArticles/StLawrenceHouse-TavernUpdateAugust2016.pdf.Ray Carney, “Patrick St. Lawrence and the Town of Pittsboro,” Accessed February 21, 2022.
Ibid.
Ray Carney, “Chatham County Town of Pittsborough and the Patrick St. Lawrence Tavern House,” January 2021. https://chathamhistory.org/resources/Documents/PDFs/
ResearchArticles/PittsboroughandPatrickStLawrenceRayCarney.pdf.Ibid.
“St. Lawrence House: ‘The Yellow House’ Update August 2016,” Chatham County Historical Association.
Ray Carney, “Errors We Believe We Found with the North Carolina Individual Property Form,” Accessed February 21, 2022.
“1790 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, Accessed March 31, 2022. https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/27962949?h=2fb41c.
“Individual Property Form for the Patrick St. Lawrence House,” State of North Carolina Division of Archives and History, March 1, 1982. https://files.nc.gov/ncdcr/nr/CH0091.pdf
Wade Hadley, “Patrick St. Lawrence in Chatham County,” The Chatham Historical Journal Vol. 1, No. 2, December 1988. https://chathamhistory.org/resources/Documents/PDFs/
Journal/CHJvol1num2.pdf.Ray Carney, “Patrick St. Lawrence and the Town of Pittsboro,” Accessed February 21, 2022.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Fred J. Vatter Jr., “Pittsboro’s Big Yellow House to be Restored and Occupied,” Chatham County Line, December 2012-January 2013. https://archive.chathamcountyline.org
/pdfs/CCL.dec12.web.pdf.Steven Struzinski, “The Tavern in Colonial America,” The Gettysburg Historical Journal Vol. 1, Article 7, 2002. https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1026&context=ghj.Email communication between Ray Carney and Daniel Maudlin. February 26, 2016.
Ibid.
Ray Carney, “Chatham County Town of Pittsborough and the Patrick St. Lawrence Tavern House.”
“Individual Property Form for the Patrick St. Lawrence House,” State of North Carolina Division of Archives and History.
Anne Tate, “Explore Chatham’s History through Its Architecture,” Chatham Magazine, March 22, 2021. https://chathammagazinenc.com/historic-homes/.
Ray Carney, interviewed by Kyle Hickey, Nick Maness, and Katelyn Tijerina, Siler City, March 1, 2022.
Anne Tate, "This Old House," Chatham Magazine, February/March 2021. https://issuu.com/shannonmedia/docs/ctmfm21_issuu/80.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse