Historic Structure Report: Superintendent's Residence

Oppermann, Joseph

On the morning of March 15, 1781, the experienced British army under British General Lord Charles, Earl Cornwallis met the ragged Continental soldiers and militia under Major General Nathanael Greene near the small backcountry hamlet of Guilford Court House. The resulting battle, technically won by the British but not without insurmountable losses, would prove pivotal in turning the tide of the Revolutionary War to the Americans. As the years passed, Guilford Court House (later renamed Martinville) became deserted as the newly formed county seat Greensboro, named after the Major General, developed into a bustling city just six miles away. The site of the battle became largely forgotten until Judge David Schenck, an amateur historian, sought it out and began to study the battle. In 1886 Schenck purchased two tracts of battlefield land and established the Guilford Battle Ground Company, a nonprofit association to continue the preservation effort. The charter of the Guilford Battle Ground Company stated that its purpose was “preserving and adorning the grounds on and over which the battle of Guilford Court House was fought.” In practice, the emphasis was on adornment, with changes to the landscape made to create a park-like setting. Monuments were erected honoring not only the heroes of the Battle of Guilford Court House, but other Revolutionary War battles. The recommended treatment includes the rehabilitation of the interior and exterior of the residence, retaining as much as practical the many original 1934-era design characteristics. This approach would retain character-defining interior and exterior features while providing some flexibility in less significant spaces of the residence. The large, public spaces of the first floor lend themselves well to reading rooms and bookshelves, while the private spaces are appropriately scaled for services. The second floor rooms could easily be used as staff office space, meeting space, and storage for the friends’ organization. Modifications to provide a handicapped accessible entry and restroom on the first floor are recommended. In addition, the recommended treatment does not preclude the future return of the building to a residence, should the need arise.

Historic Structure Report: Superintendent's Residence

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