Agnes and George Harvin have been remarkable stewards for the structures and grounds of Burnside Plantation in Vance County, described as "one of the Piedmont's most elegantly finished Federal-period houses." Listed in 1971 on the National Register of Historic Places, Burnside still has its original interiors and is in a noteworthy state of preservation. The property, once embracing about 2,500 acres, now includes 430 acres of forests and working farmland.

Realizing the pace of growth and development in North Carolina and the possible danger that it posed to Burnside Plantation, Agnes and George sought protective easements for their property. Working through Preservation North Carolina and the Tar River Land Conservancy, the Harvins placed the plantation house, outbuildings and 430 acres of surrounding property under a combination of preservation and conservation easements.

This approach illustrates how the two different types of easements can be used together to ensure the long-term preservation of historic structures and their surrounding land. This dual approach allows each type of easement to be used to full advantage. Preservation North Carolina was able to protect the historic house and its immediate grounds, while the easements held by the Tar River Land Conservancy, based in Louisburg, defend the surrounding acreage.

As North Carolina continues to grow, this alliance is one that will prove increasingly valuable for the protection of our state's historic properties, especially where the buildings and the land are both important in interpreting the history and splendor of the site.

We are pleased to present Agnes and George Harvin with the 2008 Minnette C. Duffy Landscape Preservation Award. We are especially grateful that the Harvins generously contributed back to Preservation North Carolina the $500 stipend that accompanies the Duffy Award.