Cox-Ange House

The Cox-Ange House is a historical building located in the heart of Winterville, North Carolina. The house is one of the few remaining from Winterville's inception, as the property was sold to the Arthur Walton Ange by the family of Amos Graves Cox, the founder of Winterville, North Carolina. The property was then owned and kept in its original state by Fannie Mae Ange, the daughter of Arthur Walton Ange, until 1995. The house is one of the only remaining examples of the regional architecture that went against popular culture in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century within Pitt County and is notable for having all of its exterior buildings adjacent to the house still standing.

The Cox-Ange House began construction between 1900 and 1904, just 3 years after the incorporation of the town of Winterville. The town was founded by Amos Graves Cox, a cotton farmer who enjoyed great success by selling his own cotton planter machine. Cox partitioned the land he had bought in the mid 1880s into building lots for residents within the area, which included the 3-acre lot sold in 1900 to younger brother Fountain Cox, who began to construct a house on said plot of land.

Between the summer of 1904 and the winter of 1905, the house changed hands twice before falling into the hands of Arthur Ange, who had recently moved to the area to open a general merchandise store in Winterville. The family lived in the house and operated their store until 1995. The house again changed ownership several times until it was finally purchased by the Winterville Historical and Arts Society, who remains in possession of the property today,

The significance of the house is held within the preservation of its various amenities that are seen as uncommon after World War II, including an outhouse, garden, barn, and general architectural design. These structures residing within the property of the home was very common during the early twentieth century but fell out of practice as manufacturing and industrial grade transportation became easier, giving greater access to resources that had to once be produced within the property boundaries.

The Cox-Ange House is one of the few surviving examples of the regional response to the architecture of the time period. During its time of construction, houses were often built in either Queen Anne or Victorian style. The Cox-Ange House demonstrates the unique spin that residents of Winterville would put on the popular architectural style of the time. Despite its "L-shape" and asymmetrical exterior, once inside, the center hall style rings unique to rural American architecture of the time. More popular architectural themes of the times are also part of the house, including separation of the dining room with the rest of the living space.

Outside of the building, the barn, garden, and washhouse provide a glimpse into the small-town life of early twentieth century North Carolina. According to Scott Powers, an architectural surveyor, the Cox-Ange house is the last of its kind in Pitt County. The barn would be used to hold a cow for milking, and the garden and orchard would be used to grow vegetables to provide not only for the family but the town of Winterville through the general merchandising store the Ange family owned. The washhouse provided a place for the family to rinse clothes and linens.

In 2000, the Cox-Ange House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the Cox-Ange House serves as the meeting place for the Winterville Arts and Historical Society and is open by appointment and during special events for viewing over 900 preserved artifacts unique to the town of Winterville. Due to its commitment to preservation and housing of artifacts, the house also serves as the Winterville Museum.

“A.W. Ange House.” Town of Winterville. Town of Winterville, North Carolina, 2015. Last modified 2015. Accessed February 28, 2022. https://www.wintervillenc.com/aw-ange-house. 

Nancy Van Dolsen (December 1999). "Cox-Ange House". National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office.