Historical Plaquing Guidelines Policy

Clayton has many historic buildings in its residential neighborhoods and business district. The Clayton Historical Association is sponsoring the historic plaque program to increase public awareness of the town’s historic buildings and homes. Your home or building does not need to be on the National Register or Historic Places to participate in our plaque program, but it needs to be designated as a contributing building.

Participation in the program is voluntary and does not restrict your property rights Focus is on building and home exteriors.

Correct full names and research information will be kept in the Clayton Historical Association Historical Plaque Records in the Virginia Lee Satterfield History Room of the Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library, Town of Clayton, 100 S. Church Street. This will be available to researchers and historians.

The house or building will be named when possible for the original owner or resident. Other owners or residents may be used if they occupied the house or building for a significant part of its history, or made any significant architectural changes to the structure, or if they had an important impact on Clayton’s history. The same format will be used for each plaque, showing the name of the building and the year built.

For more information, please contact Pam Baumgartner, (919) 553-5542 x4, or by email at ClaytonHistory@TownofClaytonNC.org.

There are applications in the library as well as online. If you would like to print off and drop off or mail your completed application, you may send it to:

CHA c/o Virginia Lee Satterfield History Room
Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library
100 S. Church Street
Clayton, NC 27520

The following must be included for an application to be complete:

1. The original application form and documentation (i.e. copies of deeds, maps, etc.)
2. One photocopy of the application form and documentation *Can be done at the library
3. Three photographs of the structure

The following are some guidelines that the committee will follow:

1. All houses, buildings, structures must be located in the designated historical district of Clayton, North Carolina.
2. Houses and structures must be at least 50 years old, except as follows:
   If a house or structure is less than fifty years old, a plaque will be considered if:
   a) It is significant architectural value
   b) A historically prominent person lived there
3. The particular original qualities of the house or building must not have been destroyed.
4. All houses, structures, shall be identified as products of their own time. Houses or structures with aluminum or vinyl siding will be considered.
5. The exterior of the house or structure should not have had extensive remodeling. Decisions in each case will be made by the Clayton Historical Association Preservation Committee.
6. An owner may request CHA to place a plaque on their house or structure, or CHA may request permission to place a plaque.
7. The owner of the house or structure will bear the cost of the plaque. Cost of the plaque is $105 for a house or structure.
8. If extensive exterior changes are made to a house or structure after it has received a plaque from CHA, the Historical Preservation Committee of the CHA reserves the right to remove the plaque.

RESOURCE LIST:

www.johnstonnc.com/deedsearch : You may find information about the architectural style, date built and previous owners of your property. A map of the historic district is also available.
(Click on Map Click 2.0 Find your property on the GIS maps and click on Query, then Deed Book Image and continue searching as you find other deed information. Print a copy of each deed.)
www.johnstonnc.com/rod2 : Johnston County Register of Deeds
www.johnstonnc.com/heritage : Johnston County Heritage Center
(Click on Searchable records online: You may find census information and other records here.)
www.hpo.dcr.state.nc.us : State Historic Preservation Office Website
(You will find neighbors and descendants of previous owners.)