Page 12 - Robeson Living Fall 2020

Robeson County Landmarks

By Blake Tyner

Alfred Rowland built Riverwood in 1873

Ever since Robeson County was carved from North Carolina’s mind” once the building is gone it is possible that it will slip
Mother County Bladen two hundred and thirty- three years ago it completely from the collective memory. While it is impossible to
has enjoyed a long and rich history. Over the years many beauti- provide a complete list of saved, endangered and lost buildings
ful churches, homes and public buildings have been built by the we can focus on a few examples.
hard-working people of the county. Old buildings are a physical
connection to an area’s history and culture. They remind us of History Saved
those who came before us and are worthy to be preserved. In
1996 the National Historic Preservation Act was enacted by Con- Maxton’s Patterson Building was built in 1911 by J.A. “Archie”
gress. It gives the best reason to save our physical past “preserva- Patterson to house the Bank of Robeson, this flat-iron shaped
tion of this irreplaceable heritage is in the public interest so that Renaissance Revival Building was modeled after the famous
its vital legacy of cultural, educational, aesthetic, inspirational, flat-iron building in New York. The building did not have the
economic, and energy benefits will be maintained and enriched clock tower when first built; the local citizens raised funds to
for future generations of Americans.” add the clock. The building later housed the post office before
being converted to a laundromat. The town purchased the build-
Many citizens and organizations have stepped to the forefront to ing in the late 1990s and began to look for funds to restore the
preserve a portion of our buildings from the wrecking ball but building. Preservation Maxton with a grant from Clara McLean,
there are many structures around the county in danger of disap- former executive of McLean Trucking and Sea-Land, oversaw
pearing. Sadly, many buildings are lost from neglect or the lack a $500,000 renovation to return the building to its former glory.
of funding for renovations. Just as the says “out of sight out of Miss McLean also donated funds to renovate one of the former

Page 12 Robeson Living ~ Fall 2020