The Carmon House, Craven County, NC

The Carmon House, circa 1850.

It is believed that Washington Carmon (1808-1866) built the original Greek revival section of this old home and that the house withstood significant damage during the Civil War. Carmon was the owner of a large Herring fishery located nearby on the Neuse River.

Over time, this Greek Revival house was extensively altered and added onto. Around the turn of the century, the large portion built off of the left side of the house was added creating the L-plan structure that now exists.

The McLawhorn family purchased the house around 1926 and moved it from about a 1/2 mile east of where she sits today.

I have been in love with this house for years! I'm so glad I found a little information about it! Info taken from the Historical Architecture of New Bern and Craven County dated 1988.

From comments and what I have gathered through other people sharing their stories of this one on Facebook, it has been empty since the 2000’s? I believe it last housed migrant workers.

One follower shared that the “Fonvielle/Fonville ancestors owned much of the surrounding land at one time with a few different plantations. One was called Lima Plantation near the present Carmon home,” and that “The McLawhorn heirs, two brothers, were recluses later in life. The last I heard one had passed away.”

Another follower said, “Around 1986 the family living there had a Doberman that would run up to the highway you thought he was fixing to tear you up but, it would stop at the ditch, thank goodness. It was a beautiful dog.”