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(sorry, I know this isn't technically the RDU area, but figure someone from here might have this information)
I've always been intrigued by a HUGE two story house on the west side of US-1 north of Wake Forest. It's immediately north of a small river (maybe the Tar Heel river(?)) Does anyone have any information on this house?
I know this is pretty vague, but the house is dominating in both size and the fact it's no longer livable. If I had a picture, I'm sure others who travel this road would immediately recognize it. If this post doesn't get any replies, maybe I'll snap a photo the next time I pass it.
I'm not native to NC and have no idea the history of the area surrounding the house. But I always notice and wonder about the house, and as I passed it today I decided to try and find out more about it. I know it's a bit of a longshot, but thanks to anyone who can help.
I know the house you are talking about and am curious myself. It looks like at some point in time somebody started to begin a renovation job but stopped. I've driven by the house every year since mooing here 8 years ago and have seen no activity on the property. Would have loved to have seen the house in all it's glory.
I knew EXACTLY the house you were talking about when you described it. That's the route I take up to Lake Gaston. I think I noticed it in the back of my mind, but never thought about the history around it.
Apparently this is what it looked like in 1979 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. No idea what happened to it since then, but clearly it lost its front porch. Current owner purchased it in 2005 and lives in Maryland.
And here is a Flickr photo set from 2008. See the set description...guy was trying to restore it but died of a heart attack. Apparently the new owner hasn't made any progress on it since then.
And here is the National Register nomination form for it.
There are a few of these homes in various states of disrepair throughout the NC if one knows where to look. I don't know why anyone would want to live in some bland, poorly built McMansion when they could have a beautiful Federal or Revivalist style plantation home.
There are a few of these homes in various states of disrepair throughout the NC if one knows where to look. I don't know why anyone would want to live in some bland, poorly built McMansion when they could have a beautiful Federal or Revivalist style plantation home.
Budget and sanity mostly, because sometimes the cost of fixing an old home runs into countless surprises, that unless you are a professional home restoration specialist would drive the average person crazy. At least if someone plonks down money for a new mcmansion, they know what they're getting and how much they're paying before they get involved. By the time and old place is brought up to modern code, it can end up having very little original material on it, so at that point the person has the novelty of saying "its the same shape as the original and is on the same plot of land" but its not really the same house. Personally I like the idea of keeping the outer look as original as possible, it's a shame to tear down a neat old structure, its just that this type of project is out of reach for the average homeowner, even a relatively affluent one, unless they have a lot of free time and money.
Budget and sanity mostly, because sometimes the cost of fixing an old home runs into countless surprises, that unless you are a professional home restoration specialist would drive the average person crazy. At least if someone plonks down money for a new mcmansion, they know what they're getting and how much they're paying before they get involved. By the time and old place is brought up to modern code, it can end up having very little original material on it, so at that point the person has the novelty of saying "its the same shape as the original and is on the same plot of land" but its not really the same house. Personally I like the idea of keeping the outer look as original as possible, it's a shame to tear down a neat old structure, its just that this type of project is out of reach for the average homeowner, even a relatively affluent one, unless they have a lot of free time and money.
I agree, although I think that the classic looks of older homes makes keeping the original shape and exterior a valid enough goal in itself. If I had the coin, I would definitely do something like that.
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