Pleasant Retreat Academy, Circa 1817-1820
Pleasant Retreat Academy is a rare remaining example of one of North Carolina's earliest private school buildings. The school was chartered in 1813, land was purchased in 1817, and construction was completed in 1820. While in operation between 1820 and 1878, the school saw three future state governors and two Confederate major generals pass through as students. James Pinckney Henderson was the first Governor of Texas, William A. Graham became Governor of North Carolina, and Hoke Smith became Governor of Georgia. As well, Stephen Dodson Ramseur and Robert F. Hoke, both Confederate major generals, were educated here.
The architecture is a restrained version of Federal style, with the only evidence of ornamentation being the corbeled brick cornice and the Flemish bond pattern in the brick. The arched transom over the entry door is very early and will be preserved, but is probably not original to the building.
For more than 100 years, the Southern Stars Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy loved and cared for the building. It was purchased by Lincoln Landmarks in 2022 and will serve as our headquarters. We are currently in the midst of a five year project to restore Pleasant Retreat, which is the oldest brick building in Lincolnton, NC.