Elmwood
16 N. Boylan Avenue
16 N. Boylan Avenue
History of the "House of Judges"
Elmwood stands out in any history of North Carolina not only as the home of a number of its illustrious citizens, but also as an example of the Capitol City's early architecture. It is called the "House of Judges" as the first four occupants of the house were members of the North Carolina Supreme and Superior Courts. Elmwood's colorful history is closely linked with both the judicial and political history of the State.
The builder of the house, John Louis Taylor (1769-1829), was elected to the House of Commons in 1792, and was selected by his associates to preside as the State's first Chief Justice in 1818.
The next owner and occupant, William Gaston (1778-1844), was himself one of the State's most distinguished jurists and statesmen. Justice Gaston purchased Elmwood in 1829. Justice Gaston was elected to both the Senate and the House of Commons. He also served as a two term U.S. Congressman. Justice Gaston was named a state Supreme Court justice in 1833, serving the high court until 1844.
Elmwood was next occupied by Thomas Ruffin (1797-1870). Justice Ruffin began serving as a justice on the State Supreme Court in 1829. He served as Chief Justice of the Court from 1833 until 1852. He also was a member of the North Carolina House of Commons, a Superior Court judge, a reporter for the NC Supreme Court, and a president of the State Bank.
The next owner/occupant of Elmwood was Judge Romulus M. Saunders. Judge Saunders purchased Elmwood in 1837. He served as the United States' Ambassador to Spain in 1846, and enjoyed a successful political career in both the State House and Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives. He also served as the State's Attorney General prior to his election to the Superior Court.
William H. Willard (1819-1898) purchased Elmwood in 1873. Mr. Willard was a successful banker and industrialist with a number of wide-ranging business interests. His steamship, the S.S. Oregon, after a storm, first sounded and then entered the North Carolina inlet wiht bears its name today.
Captain Samuel A'Court Ashe (1840-1937) inherited Elmwood from his father-in-law, William Willard in 1898. Capt. Ashe served in the Confederate forces, was admitted to the State Bar, and elected to the North Carolina House. Capt. Ashe was a prolific writer and editor; his purchases of the Daily News and the Observer newspapers resulted in the News and Observer. Capt. Ashe edited the voluminous Biographical History of North Carolina in addition to the two volume definitive History of North Carolina. A monument dedicated to the memory of Samuel A'Court Ashe, in gratitude for his long standing pubic service to North Carolina, stands on the western lawn of the State Capitol.
The builder of the house, John Louis Taylor (1769-1829), was elected to the House of Commons in 1792, and was selected by his associates to preside as the State's first Chief Justice in 1818.
The next owner and occupant, William Gaston (1778-1844), was himself one of the State's most distinguished jurists and statesmen. Justice Gaston purchased Elmwood in 1829. Justice Gaston was elected to both the Senate and the House of Commons. He also served as a two term U.S. Congressman. Justice Gaston was named a state Supreme Court justice in 1833, serving the high court until 1844.
Elmwood was next occupied by Thomas Ruffin (1797-1870). Justice Ruffin began serving as a justice on the State Supreme Court in 1829. He served as Chief Justice of the Court from 1833 until 1852. He also was a member of the North Carolina House of Commons, a Superior Court judge, a reporter for the NC Supreme Court, and a president of the State Bank.
The next owner/occupant of Elmwood was Judge Romulus M. Saunders. Judge Saunders purchased Elmwood in 1837. He served as the United States' Ambassador to Spain in 1846, and enjoyed a successful political career in both the State House and Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives. He also served as the State's Attorney General prior to his election to the Superior Court.
William H. Willard (1819-1898) purchased Elmwood in 1873. Mr. Willard was a successful banker and industrialist with a number of wide-ranging business interests. His steamship, the S.S. Oregon, after a storm, first sounded and then entered the North Carolina inlet wiht bears its name today.
Captain Samuel A'Court Ashe (1840-1937) inherited Elmwood from his father-in-law, William Willard in 1898. Capt. Ashe served in the Confederate forces, was admitted to the State Bar, and elected to the North Carolina House. Capt. Ashe was a prolific writer and editor; his purchases of the Daily News and the Observer newspapers resulted in the News and Observer. Capt. Ashe edited the voluminous Biographical History of North Carolina in addition to the two volume definitive History of North Carolina. A monument dedicated to the memory of Samuel A'Court Ashe, in gratitude for his long standing pubic service to North Carolina, stands on the western lawn of the State Capitol.
