In 2022, Kathy Thornton contacted us asking if there was some way she and family members might visit the John A. Mason House and Jesse Mason cemetery. She noted that some of her ancestors had been enslaved on that plantation. We were able to connect Kathy to the folks responsible for caring for the historic site, which is part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jordan Lake Project, and she and her family visited in March. Kathy provided the photo shared here.

According to the Architectural Heritage of Chatham County, NC, the John A. Mason House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built about 1850 and is a "distinguished Greek Revival farm house." John Acree Mason obtained a 600-acre parcel "on the waters of New Hope and Morgan Creek" in 1835 from his parents, William Mason and Nancy Acree Mason. In the next two decades, John Mason expanded his holdings to 1,027 acres, built his house, and "became a member of the middle-echelon planter class." The most distinctive interior feature, according to the survey conducted in the 1980s is the stair with landing. The wave pattern along the staircase is shown in one of Kathy's photos.

The cemetery has been inventoried and is shown in our cemetery records. See: https://cemeterycensus.com/nc/chat/cem152.htm

Kathy noted with interest that one of the formerly enslaved Masons was buried within the family plot and has an inscribed marker saying "Sallie Mason, Our Black Mammy." The graves of other enslaved persons are believed to be outside of the fence enclosing the family graves.

The John A. Mason House is not open to the public, but CCHA will look into arranging possible future tours of this property.

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