The Historic Captain J. F. Alston House
Sketch of the Captain J. F. Alston house Raleigh News & Observer August 29, 1897
14 N. Small Street, ca 1892
The frame, two-story, tri-gable house with wrap around porch features two-over-two sash windows, and an interior brick chimney with corbeled cap. A number of one-story shed and gable-roof additions appear at the rear. Alterations include vinyl siding, replacement porch posts, and missing porch railing. W. L. London, a principal stockholder of the Pittsboro Railroad Company, had this house built sometime after 1886. In 1892, J.F. Alston purchased the house and lot from London for $550. Alston may have hired contractor Bennet Nooe to add the porch about 1892, as it resembled his porches on other houses prior to remodeling. Alston was a locomotive engineer in the early 20th century. The house originally stood in the middle of East Street and was moved to its present site facing Small Street in the 1950s when U.S. 64 was created. (Osbomand Selden-Sturgill)
You can read more about Pittsboro’s Historic District here:
A National Registry Building
Gandy Coffee House is located inside of the Captain James F. Alston House. The building was included within a National Park nomination for Pittsboro’s Historic District and is listed individually as a “contributing” building the Captain J. F. Alston House was described as:
Image of the Captain J. F. Alston house taken in the mid 80’s
Captain James F. Alston
Captain Alston (1860-1935) was a prominent railroad conductor, engineer, and civic leader whose life and home are deeply entwined with the history of the Town of Pittsboro. Captain Alston worked for the Seaboard Air Line for 46 years and was well known throughout Pittsboro and Montcure.
Living for decades in this distinguished Victorian home with his wife, Octavia E. Daub, Capt. Alston and his wife “Ockie”played an instrumental role in shaping the town’s community and culture.
The Railroad of Pittsboro
The Captain’s house once stood right beside the Pittsboro rail station-a vital stop on the line from Pittsboro to Montcure. The railroad was the lifeline that brought commerce, visitors, and opportunity to Pittsboro, putting the town on the map and helping it flourish in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Hundreds of Newspaper Articles Captain Alston’s leadership, generosity, and commitment made him a key figure in the story of Pittsboro’s rise, and many artifacts, including hundreds of news articles about his daily activities, celebrate his impact and the significance of both is home and the railroad to the town’s enduring legacy.
A Victorian Home
The deed records from the Chatham Historial Society shows the home may have been built in 1886 by W. L London. London was one of Pittsboro’s most prominent merchants and local leaders at the time. According to historical records W. L London and his son, Henry London, were close friends Captain J. F. Alston. They served together in civil positions and attending many functions together. Captain Alston purchased this Victorian home from W. L. London in 1892. Historical records suggest the home was built by Bennett Nooe, another prominent figure at the time. Nooe owned a lumber mill and built many of Pittsboro’s, historic homes that still stand today within the historic district. constructed the home’s distinctive Queen Anne style of architecture, including its iconic front porch. Bennett Nooe owned a lumber planing mill and was a prominent builder, and many of the beautiful homes he built still stand today.
A Patchwork Home
During this era, it was common practice to physically relocate entire houses: structures were often moved across town, repurposed, or pushed together to create larger, more impressive residences. This was because building homes required large amounts of wood and hand made nails. Every piece of lumber was hand (and later steam powered) milled wood, so tearing down a home was not practical.
During our reconstruction of the home we have found original exterior walls inside the home, suggesting that there are two, and possibly three homes that were pushed together to make the current home we see today. Our renovations and the assistance of experienced home historians and builders are uncovering the many clues that tell us about the home, its dating, and a glimpse into life in the gilded age of Pittsboro.
The Captain Alston home stands as a unique example of architectural history and a patchwork of local stories, craftsmanship, and heritage.
A Restoration Story
Follow our restoration journey as we are discover the secrets to this Victorian beauty.
A “Gandy” was a tool used to install the railroad and the men who worked on the railroad were called “Gandy Dancers.” The crews of laborers who laid and maintained America’s railroads had strength and their rhythm and Gandy tools kept the steel rails straight and the trains running. Their songs, chants, and teamwork builds the infrastructure that carried commerce and growth to Pittsboro. Though these men are often overlooked, they were vital contributors to the story of our town.
Small Street, where Gandy Coffee House proudly sits on the corner, was first cut through town not for carriages or homes, but to haul massive timbers and ties needed for the tracks. Though the rail line was short-lived, its impact shaped the growth of the town of Pittsboro and connected the community to larger markets and ideas.
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