Honored for protecting their home and the remaining 77 acres of land in perpetuity through historic preservation covenants, which will prevent development of this scenic and ecologically important section of the Catawba River watershed in Burke County.
About the Award
The Minnette C. Duffy Landscape Preservation Award is North Carolina's highest award presented for the preservation, restoration, or maintenance of landscapes, gardens, streetscapes, or grounds related to historic structures. The award honors the late Minnette Chapman Duffy of New Bern, whose quiet leadership contributed to the reconstruction of Tryon Palace.
In 2007, Mrs. Duffy's daughter, Minnette Duffy Bickel of Pittsburgh, generously endowed the Duffy Landscape Award, ensuring its long-term continuation.
Mary Lou Avery Furr grew up on the property that is home to one of the most historic and well preserved plantation houses in the region.
Swan Ponds, ca. 1828, was built by Waightstill Avery, a lawyer and member of the NC Provincial Congress. He also served as North Carolina’s first attorney general from 1777 to 1779.
The stately Greek Revival home and surrounding acreage was been passed down through the Avery family for several generations. When Mary Lou and her husband, Jimmy, inherited the property, the tract totaled 77 acres along the Catawba River, although at one time, the property had been a sprawling 12,000-acre farm.
Mary Lou and Jimmy realized that continued divisions of the land as it was being passed down among family members would eventually lead to its dissolution. The couple talked the situation over with their two daughters and their daughters’ families before making plans with Mike Stout, northwest regional director for Preservation NC, to place the property under PNC protection.
The covenant drawn up for Swan Ponds will prevent it from being further subdivided or sold off for development, a farsighted and generous plan that benefits the entire region and state by protecting an important part of NC history.
Their action also ensures the long-term protection of many scenic acres of undeveloped land along the Catawba River, which serves as a wetlands, helps sustain water quality, and boosts quality of life for wildlife as well as human inhabitants of the region.
