“Allen-Woodward House. 1886;1927. Built by Jacob S. Allen (1829-1895), native of Raleigh, contractor and builder. Purchased in 1891 by Hector McLean Green (1849-1925), native of Lillington, timber inspector, Postmaster, and realtor; and wife, Ida Deems Alderman (1866-1926). Purchased by Mary Worth Woodward, native of Asheboro, who had facade altered, Lynch & Foard, architects. Inherited by Emma Woodward MacMillan (1893-1975), local historian, and City Librarian for 30 years.” This is the plaque text that describes the history of the Allen-Woodward house since its construction in 1886. The plaque resides on the left-hand side of the front door and has been there for almost forty-four years.

Despite the extensive history of the building itself, the Allen-Woodward house was home to many families throughout the decades. The first owner and constructor was Jacob S. Allen, who was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. He married Mattie Allen and had their children, Lizzie, Mattie, Jacob, John, and Jane.[3] However, it is still being determined if his family lived in the Allen-Woodward House with him. It was through his works of design and building that this house could face the wear of time and the environment. His office was located close by at 113 N. Water Street, where he is listed as a contractor, builder, and architect. He lived in the home until 1891 when it is believed he moved on to another project. It was purchased by Hector Green and his wife, Ida D. Green. They had one daughter named Alice in 1875. Hector was a timber inspector, and Ida’s occupation is unknown. Alice was a schoolteacher in the early 1900s while living at the house.[4]  It is believed that the Greens’ nephew, Paul Green, a famous playwright, would often stay with the family, bringing attention to the house. In 1904 Alice Green married her husband, Professor Edward Wilson, in the home by a Presbyterian Minister.

            The house was exchanged hands again in 1927 when it was purchased by Mrs. William Joseph Woodward for a sum of three thousand dollars. Sadly, her stay at the Allen-Woodward home would be a short one, as she passed away less than two years later. Mrs. Woodward then left the house in her will to her two daughters, Mrs. Cornelia Woodward Rose and Miss Emma Woodward. Cornelia was a widow, and she and her sister lived and owned the house jointly, as stated in their mother's will until one of them married or died. It was during this time that the house was converted into two separate apartments so the two women could live separately, but together, Cornelia lived in the upstairs apartment while Emma lived downstairs. They had other changes done to the house during this time, like the previously mentioned removal of the front porch, further adding to the original sought appearance by Jacob Allen.  

            Emma Woodward was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she received her bachelor’s degree in library sciences. During World War I, she worked as a Post Librarian at Camp Lee and Fort Bragg. She was able to use her skills and knowledge to become the chief librarian of the Wilmington Public Library for over thirty years.[5] During this time, she married William Dougald MacMillan, and it is believed that they had no children and married later in life. Emma also began her work in the historical field, publishing two books entitled Wilmington Vanished Homes and Buildings (1966) and A Goodly Heritage (1961). When she married, the house ownership moved to her sister, Cornelia, keeping the house in the Woodward family. Emma became the owner of the house again in 1969 after the death of her sister. Her niece later joined her in the home. Mary Woodward Clinton and her husband lived with Emma until she died in 1975 when she willed the house to Mary.

Mary and her husband researched and gathered the information on this house and presented it to the Historical Wilmington Foundation in the late 1970s for consideration. The plaque’s text appears to leave out one name that is relevant to the houses’ history: Cornelia Woodward. Although there is extensive mention of her sister, Emma, there is no information on the plaque regarding Cornelia and her and her sister's work on the house, creating the exterior we see today. Why Cornelia’s contributions were left out of the plaque text is unknown. However, it can be inferred that Emma had more popularity, giving the house a higher social status because of it. The house received its name from the two families, the Allen’s and Woodward’s, to commemorate their efforts in building and restoring the house since the 1800s. There is a brief mention on the plaque text itself to give credit to the Green family, who lived there for almost thirty-six years, making them the second-longest family to reside in the historic house.

            The house has been sold many times since then, leaving the Woodward family. The house received the 2015 Preservation Award for Rehabilitation by the Historic Wilmington Foundation. This award is stated to go to a place that “is repaired and/or altered while preserving those portions or features which convey its historical, cultural, or architectural values.”[6] This shows that through the decades of rehabilitation done by several owners, they maintained the original character designed by Jacob Allen. This allows the house to maintain its original integrity and become a recognized historical house in the Cape Fear Region. The Allen-Woodward house applied for a house plaque on February 8th, 1979, and was approved the following year. It was revised three times, with the final revision that stands on the house today being in 1995.[7] The last time the house was sold was in 2020 and is now estimated to be worth almost one million dollars today.