A Historic Bargain And A Race Against Time: Endangered Alfred Altman House Offered For Sale – But Must Be Moved
BENSON, NC, October 30, 2025 – Preservation North Carolina (Preservation NC) announces a unique and urgent opportunity for history enthusiasts and preservationists: the Alfred Altman House, a rare 1840s Johnston County ‘Coastal Cottage,’ is being offered for sale for the structure-only price of just $10,000. The catch: the entire 1,300 square-foot structure must be relocated to a new site by December 2025 to prevent its scheduled demolition. There are also two early outbuildings that can go with it.
Hailed as “the most lavishly decorated” of Johnston County’s coastal cottages, the Alfred Altman House is a stunning example of Georgian and Federal style architecture and is considered one of the region’s most endangered historic properties. This purchase offers the chance to become a steward of a piece of North Carolina history and undertake a dramatic rescue.
Architectural Virtues and Rare Decorative Detail
Built in the 1840s for Alfred and Elizabeth Jernigan Altman, the house’s appeal lies in its remarkably intact and refined interior detailing. Key architectural features include:
- Exquisite Woodwork: The house features excellent, richly ornamented Georgian and Federal style woodwork throughout.
- Rare Decorative Paint: The enclosed staircase is a true showpiece, retaining a rare exhibit of decorative paint, including colorful marbleized door panels, wainscot, and stair risers.
- Grand Fireplaces: The two light-filled spacious first-floor rooms boast imposing mantels with exuberantly paneled friezes and molded cornices, set above a raised panel wainscot.
- Unique Entrances: The first floor is notable for its twin front doors, each richly ornamented with eight panels in a unique configuration and surrounded by paired symmetrical moldings below transom windows.
- Spacious Design: The 1,300 sq. ft. structure includes five rooms on the first floor and two finely finished rooms on the second floor, along with the notable enclosed staircase.
The Challenge and The Opportunity
The structure and outbuildings have been saved once, having been moved from their original site in 2008, and are currently resting on block piers. While some elements, like the chimneys and a portion of the clapboards, were removed, original components like the round porch railings and unique porch posts have beenretained and are available for re-installation. Despite some weather damage, Preservation NC notes the house remains in “remarkable condition, primed for relocation to a new permanent site.”
At just $10,000, this offering is priced for a quick sale to a committed buyer who possesses the vision and resources to tackle the complex, yet rewarding, process of moving the house. Failure to secure a buyer and a new location by the December 2025 deadline will result in the property being lost forever to demolition.
Preservation NC is seeking an individual, organization, or developer who is dedicated to the proper relocation and restoration of this irreplaceable historic asset.
Inquiries and Contact:
Interested parties are urged to act quickly and contact Preservation North Carolina for details regarding the purchase agreement, relocation requirements, and structural inspection.
Contact: Cathleen Turner, Regional Director, Preservation North Carolina, Piedmont Office | 919-832-3652 ext. 240 | cturner@presnc.org
Property Details: Location: Benson, NC | Price: $10,000 (Structure) | Relocation Deadline: December 2025
Interested parties may visit http://www.presnc.org/properties/alfred-altman-house-structure-only/ to view photos of the property.