Rare, 1840s Johnston County ‘coastal cottage’ on sale for $10K. Here’s the catch
.jpg "The Alfred Altman House at 83 Massengill Road in Benson, roughly 43 miles south of Raleigh. It’s currently facing demolition.")
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Preservation groups list 1840s Alfred Altman coastal cottage for $10,000.
- Buyer must relocate house and fund full rehabilitation; land excluded.
- Groups urge rapid action to move the structure before scheduled demolition.
A rare 1840s “coastal cottage,” once considered Johnston County’s “most lavishly decorated,” has already been relocated and saved once. Now, it’s endangered again.
In 2008, preservationists moved the 1,300-square-foot relic, known as the Alfred Altman House, from its original Newton Grove site to where it currently rests at 83 Massengill Road in Benson, roughly 43 miles south of Raleigh. And for almost 18 years, it’s stood abandoned on block piers, waiting to be relocated to a permanent site, slowly crumbling. The chimneys and a portion of the clapboards have been removed and most of the roof tin has blown off.
This December, it’s slated for demolition.
But in an 11th-hour bid, Johnston County Heritage Center and Preservation Johnston County are now racing to save the “irreplaceable historic asset.”
a.jpg "Alfred Altman House-Archival Photo 1982 (12)a.jpg")
They’ve collaborated with Preservation NC, listing the property and two early outbuildings for just $10,000. The land is not included.
But here’s the catch: the buyer must possess the “vision and resources” to move the house.
“This purchase offers the chance to become a steward of a piece of North Carolina history and undertake a dramatic rescue,” Cathleen Turner, regional director at Preservation NC, told The N&O on Wednesday.
“It’s a rare, early survivor,” she added. “We’re crossing fingers something good happens.”
Alfred Altman, a farmer, built the house in the 1840s on land inherited from his father. He and his wife, Elizabeth Jernigan, raised their six children there, including two sons who served in the Civil War, records show.
Despite some weather damage, the house remains in “remarkable condition,” Preservation NC said.
History buffs say its appeal lies in its remarkably intact interior, including ornate Georgian and Federal-style woodwork, deep recessed porches, and intricate paintwork.
It offers five rooms on the first floor and two rooms on the second floor, along with an enclosed staircase featuring “colorful marbleized door panels, wainscot, and stair risers.”
Other original components, like the round porch railings and porch posts, early kitchen and smokehouse, have been retained and are available for re-installation.
Turner said once on its new foundation, with water, sewer and septic in place, a complete rehabilitation will be required, including all new systems — electrical, plumbing, HVAC— plus updated kitchen and baths.
“The ideal site for relocation of the structure will be within Johnston County,” she said.
Interested parties are urged to act quickly. Contact Cathleen Turner, Regional Director, Preservation North Carolina, at 919-832-3652 ext. 240 or write cturner@presnc.org.
This story was originally published November 5, 2025 at 3:04 PM.
