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Welcome
Sign, Thirteen year old Matthew Calloway came to the Madison Board of Aldermen October 10, 2002 to request permission to build a new welcome sign for the town of Madison. It was Matthew's desire to design and build this as part of his Eagle Scout project. The sign was completed March 10, 2003.
 Boxwoods,
circa 1810, is considered the oldest house in Madison. It was
built in the Federal style for Randall Duke Scales who in 1812
donated ninety-six one half acre lots which became the original Town
of Madison. A spectacular view from the house overlooks the
Dan River Bottoms. A long entry walkway bordered with ancient
boxwoods lends the house its name. The exterior of the house
is a beautiful combination of Federal and Victorian styles which is
the result of expansion and alterations during the late nineteenth
century. Present owners are descendants of the Vaughn
family who purchased the house in the mid 1800's.
Nineteenth-century outbuildings include a smokehouse, coal shed and
slave quarters.
 The
Boxley was built in
three stages in construction. The present detached
kitchen and dining room probably pre-date the establishment of
Madison. In the 1820's a second construction consisting of two
rooms and a two story porch faced the Dan River. In the
1840's this structure was enlarged to its present size and its two
story porch with monumental Ionic columns faced Hunter Street.
From about 1830 to 1895 the house was occupied by Pleasant Black and
his family. In 1895, it was sold to Robert P. Webster and his
large family maintained ownership for almost one hundred years.
In the 1990's, great-grandson Mike and his wife, Staffie Webster,
renovated the house and yard and began a bed and breakfast which is
operated by present owners.
 The
Twitchell-Gallaway House
is in the Academy Street National Register Historic District.
It was built for Randall Duke Scales as a wedding gift for his
daughter Elizabeth upon her marriage to Joseph Twitchell in 1834.
In 1880, the house was purchased by John Gallaway, who started the
Bank of Madison and is credited with owning Madison's first bathtub.
Extensive renovations sympathetic to the original style and historic
integrity were done in the 1990's by Donald Rumsey. The
modernized kitchen still in the basement, a spectacular new front
porch and beautiful landscaping are interesting features.
 The
Madison Presbyterian Church
was built in 1848. The original building, still used as
a sanctuary, is a good example of vernacular Greek Revival style
with its pediment gable end to the street. The interior plan
consisted of a pulpit at the front so parishioners entered through
separate doors to pews divided down the middle of the church to keep
them apart. Some time after the Civil War the slave
balcony was removed and the pulpit was moved to the back of the
church. Sympathetic additions include a 1880's richly textured
enclosed portico which contributes to the building's Neo-Classical
style through its gable with boxed cornice and returns.
The original Presbyterian
cemetery is located
at 113 W. Academy Street. The cemetery contains the
remains of notable residents who helped found the town and
established it as a major trading center and tobacco market.
 The
Pratt House.
C.B. Pratt brought his family to Madison in 1892 and lived in the
Aiken-Pratt House while this house was built. It stands on one
of the original 96 lots platted by Randall Duke Scales and was
finished around 1900. Hipped, gabled and conical roofs,
Palladian windows in the attic gables and stained glass windows are
characteristic of the Queen Anne style. The first
Madison Post Office was located in the side yard on the west.
The Pratt family maintained ownership until 1995 when a local
contractor purchased the property. Renovations included a new
foundation, new roof and a striking Victorian paint job.
Sitting on a hill overlooking downtown, the Pratt house is an
imposing landmark. The house is in the Decatur-Hunter Street
Historic District.
 Rosemont
was built by Nathaniel Pickett, owner of Madison Lumber Company,
co-owner of the first automobile agency in Madison, and first
chairman of the Madison School Board. Though he had major
losses in the crash of 1929 and died soon after in a tragic
accident, the Pickett family was able to keep the house until the
1960's when new owners conducted renovations which included painting
red brick walls cream and the red tile roof green. In the
1980's, the Hayden Lees made sympathetic renovations which included
major roof work and painting the brick walls rose. Multiple
roof lines columned porches and port cochere, the sun room and the
extensive use of Tuscan columns make Rosemont a beautiful example of
the Queen Ann style. Interior paneled wainscoting and
parquet tile floors are notable features. Rosemont is in
the Decatur-Hunter Street Historic District.
 Wakeham
was constructed in
1921 for Junius C. Brown, a prominent attorney and Madison civic
leader. His widow, Eliza Pratt Brown lived to be 90 plus years and
remained in the house until her death. The Browns, who had no
children, left a prestigious scholarship to Wake Forest University.
Recent owners have done cosmetic renovations and installed a new
roof. Present owners, Harry and Nelda Clendinen, are noted for
their carefully maintained landscaping and seasonal decorations
which are appreciated by the many people who pass daily. This
high-style balcony, and carved wooden sunburst lunette above the
entrance is one of Madison's most beautiful houses. Wakeman is
in the Academy Street Historic District.
 Town
Clock. Madison's
memorial for World War I veterans was installed during construction
of an automobile dealership owned by Nat Pickett, Stirling Webster,
and Jim Vaughn. The cost of the clock was around $600 and it
was shipped by boat and rail from Boston. Engraved on the bell
and face of the clock are the words "All of those who
served" and "Madison, N.C." The clock has
been refurbished and remains one of few large clocks operated by
winding. In the 1920's, the building was purchased by T.D.
Meadow and used as a wholesale grocery company. It is
presently used for light-manufacturing by Gem Dandy company.
Neo-Romanesque detailing is created by buttresses of gray brick and
window arches which have been filled with brick.
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