Tate House

Now the location of Morganton Savings Bank, the Tate House is one of the city's grandest historic homes. It was originally built by a local physician named Dr. William L. McRee around 1850 in the Greek Revival style. The house is named after its second owner, Samuel McDowell Tate (1830-1897), who was a well-known merchant, railroad official, and politician. Tate, who remodeled the house into its current Second Empire-style appearance, rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and served four terms in the North Carolina House of Commons. He was also known for leading the effort to establish the Western Insane Asylum (now called Broughton Hospital) here in Morganton. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Architecture

The house was built in red brick laid in the Flemish bond. It features brick pilasters (columns); a mansard roof with large, double-window dormers; and, the most striking element of the house, the three-story octagonal tower, which features a mansard roof and windows set in recessed brick panels. There are also two porches on the first floor on either side of the tower. A decorative spindle frieze runs under the cornice of the porches.

Samuel McDowell Tate (1830-1897)

Samuel McDowell Tate was born in 1830 in Morganton to parents David and Susan Tate. David served in both houses of the state legislature but unfortunately died unexpectedly in 1836. Tate went to private schools in North Carolina and in Bedford, Pennsylvania, which was where his mother was from. Additional information about his childhood is not readily available. As a young man, Tate became a merchant in Philadelphia but returned to Morganton in 1850 where he operated a successful general merchandise business. He also started to work for the Western North Carolina Railroad (WNCR) around 1854. Between 1856 and 1860, Tate also served as the postmaster of Morganton.

It is believed Tate bought the house in 1855 (after McRee died) for his upcoming marriage to his future wife, Jennie (they would have ten children together). However, the Civil War delayed the marriage until 1866 and during the war Tate rented the house. Upon returning to Morganton after the war, the WNCR elected Tate as president of the company, which had been poorly run and became bankrupt. He successfully reorganized the WNCR and remained as president until 1868 (except for about a year between 1865 and 1866). He then served as the financial agent of the stockholders and the trustee for the payment of debts until 1874.

That year, Tate sold his stock and resigned from the railroad to run for the Burke County seat in the state House of Commons. He sponsored a bill that would give the state control over the WNCR. It passed and Tate was appointed as railroad commissioner. Tate also sponsored a bill that authorized the use of convict labor to build the state's infrastructure. This bill passed as well and Tate became commissioner of the convict workforce. He served on a several committees as well including the rules and finance committees.

In addition to his political work, Tate served in other areas as well. In 1886 Tate was appointed examiner of national banks in the district encompassing the area from West Virginia to Florida. He also led the effort to establish the North Carolina School for the Deaf in Morganton in 1891. In 1892, the governor appointed Tate as the state treasurer and he served in that position in 1894. He spent his remaining years in retirement and died in 1897. It appears the house remained in family until at least 1973 when it was added to the National Register.

Pruitt, Elaine Doerschuk. "Tate, Samuel McDowell." NCPedia. 1996. https://ncpedia.org/biography/tate-samuel-mcdowell.

"The Tate House." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. May 25, 1973. https://files.nc.gov/ncdcr/nr/BK0012.pdf.