December 21, 2011

Circa 1925 Lash House ~ Price reduced ~ $184,000 ~ Salisbury NC

The historic two-story wood frame home with wrap-around front porch at 530 West Monroe Street in Salisbury NC, circa 1925 Lash House, is now for sale and represents a special opportunity to own an historic home in central North Carolina. This spacious 2,600-2,700 square foot structure was the boyhood home of Wiley Lash (1908-1995), owner of an East Council Street grocery, a member of the Salisbury City Council and the city’s first black mayor.  Wiley Lash’s descendants donated the home to Historic Salisbury Foundation (HSF). At the time of donation, the home was divided into two apartments. It was included on the very popular Historic Salisbury Foundation’s October Tour 2003 as a work in progress. 

The Lash home is decidedly the jewel in the crown of this Livingstone College neighborhood. Owners of this historic home will enjoy a fully restored dwelling with ultra-large rooms, (3) bedrooms and (3) full bathrooms, fireplaces with beveled mirrors and original mantles and tile work, and a superb wraparound front porch. The home’s wonderful 18.3 x 9.10 eat-in kitchen includes a butler’s pantry converted to a wet bar with built-in wine racks and wine fridge, built in china closet, and sunny 7’ x 6’ breakfast nook. Original leaded glass windows and transoms abound, many with stained glass panels.  Many of the rooms have bay windows.

What a great floor plan for both living and entertaining! The living room measures 15.4’ x 14’, the dining room is 17.5’ x 13.7’, and the den is 14.10’ x 13.10’. There are (3) first floor fireplaces with gas logs to add to the ambiance. The wraparound porch is a very special feature of this wonderful home, overlooking a newly landscaped yard with a gently curving stone retaining wall and front picket fence.

The master suite includes the large 15 x 14 foot bedroom, a sitting/dressing room, currently used as an office, with a modern closet system, and a fireplace.  The large master bath has a seating area, stone tile surrounds and floors, mixing historic features with ultra-modern in its blend of the multi-head shower system with body-spray jets and its claw foot bathtub.

Circa 1925 Lash home went through extensive restoration in 2005. The owners, one of whom was the recent Executive Director of the Historic Salisbury Foundation, retained and restored a built-in china cabinet, and all of the pocket doors, as well as performing structural repairs to the flooring, interior, and porch. The owners completely rewired the home, highlighting all original lighting fixtures with additional recessed lighting, and providing modern living conveniences. Floors and woodwork were hand-scraped (no sanding) and oil-refinished throughout.  The kitchen, baths, and laundry have undergone full renovations. A door to the left of the present front door was removed and replaced with the original window, found in the basement complete with casings, jambs, sashes, and sash weights. 

Nuts & Bolts of the Lash Home:
  • All new mechanical systems. 
  • New roof. 
  • Tankless gas water heater. 
  • Partial Basement
  • All new wiring
  • Structural improvements to porch and interior flooring

The historic Lash House sits between the West Square and Livingstone College Historic Districts. Its most prestigious neighbor is the beautiful Livingstone College and Carnegie Library.

Livingstone College was founded in 1879 under the name Zion Wesley Institute. In 1887, the school changed its name to Livingstone College in honor of Dr. David Livingstone (1813-1873), a well-known missionary, philanthropist, and explorer in Africa. Livingstone’s campus is housed on 272 acres consisting of 21 brick buildings. In 1982, seven campus structures were listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the oldest building on campus:  Dodge Hall, built in 1886, and the founder’s former home, built in 1884.

Andrew Carnegie founded the Carnegie Technical Schools in 1900, later called the Carnegie Institute of Technology, and today known as Carnegie Mellon University, and funded a limited number of academic libraries. The Andrew Carnegie Library in Salisbury, North Carolina was constructed in 1908 as the academic library of Livingstone College This was the only academic library permitted to use the donor's first name as part of the name of the library and one of only two libraries, constructed by Andrew Carnegie, to have that honor. The only other library permitted to use the donor's first name as part of the name of the library (and, hence, the only public library to hold that honor) is the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall in Carnegie, Pennsylvania (a suburb of Pittsburgh).

Historic Preservation Covenants and restrictions are in place on this home.

For just $184,000, you can surround yourself and your family with the features of this special historic home. Contact Greg Rapp at 704.213.6846 for a firsthand look at this opportunity to own the jewel in the crown of the Livingstone neighborhood.

November 22, 2011

If this house could talk...a rare example of a mid-19th century Central Piedmont home - 300 West Horah Street - Salisbury NC $279,000.

Have you asked yourself, "who was the original owner of my house, when was my house built, or what is the history of my property?" Then this is the circa 1852 home is for you.

If the Maxwell house could talk, originally built in 1852, it would tell you stories of the Civil War, the Bread Riots in Salisbury when the women stormed the confederate stores for flour and food. It would tell you about Sherman’s troops entering Salisbury in 1865 at the war’s end.  It would tell you about the surge in the textile industry and stories from the local mills. At the centennial of our country, October 1876, fire destroyed the Maxwell House. It would share with you that it’s new owner rebuilt immediately upon the foundation.  The Maxwell House’s stories continue through the ages.  It has seen the Civil Rights movement, the integration of schools, the rise and fall of neighborhoods.  It was a victim of urban blight, and nearly in ruin, when the Historic Salisbury foundation purchased the home. It will tell you of its journey through the streets of Salisbury when in 1985, it was lifted and moved from its original location at the corner of South Lee and East Fisher Street to its current location at 300 Horah Street.

The Thomas T. Maxwell house, a mid~19th century Greek revival dwelling, originally stood at the corner of South Lee and East Fisher streets, in the old South Ward of Salisbury.  The Historic Salisbury Foundation purchased the home and in 1985 moved it to its present location to avoid demolition. 

Originally built in 1852 by Thomas Maxwell, the house is a simple “I” plan.  This is a rare example of early central Piedmont design. The home is rich with the artisan’s details: the marks of hand planed woodwork, original millwork on the staircase, and the tongue and groove walls (there is no plaster or sheetrock in the home). The house retains its original footprint, and the windows, doors, mantels, shutters, and even most of the hardware are original to the home.

The house’s simple “I” plan includes a center hall and stairway in the single-pile two-story section. A semi-detached one-story ell containing a kitchen, dining room, and back porch/breezeway completed the structure.  The hallway is still lit by what is believed to be an original light fixture, a fixture that was originally intended to operate via both gas light and new fangled electricity. In October 1876, the Maxwell House was destroyed by fire.  Its owner at the time, Mr. B. F. Rogers, began rebuilding immediately upon the foundation of the original house.  It is that rebuilt dwelling that we see today.

The home is resplendent with special features, such as the dining room’s hand painted floor, the faux-marble painted accents, typical of the time period, in the parlor, claw foot bath tub, and pierced porch balustrades. Every room features a fireplace. The master suites fireplace has been outfitted with gas logs.

Upon relocation to its current site, the deteriorated masonry elements were lost.  All of the fireplaces and chimneys were rebuilt in 1985 and are in working order. In 2002, a 800 square foot living space was added under the existing house and includes a large family room, full bath, laundry room and fourth bedroom which could easily be used as an office or artist studio.

Enter at the front door from a sunny, rocking-chair front porch. To reach the home’s large, picket~fenced, nearly ½ acre yard, exit through a charming enclosed side porch to the patio, covered with an attractive arbor.  A cook’s garden sits astride the house not far from the kitchen with raised beds filled with herbs. A detached two-car garage sits to the rear of the property.

The Thomas T. Maxwell house is now centrally located in the heart of the prestigious West Square Historic District in Salisbury NC.  It was featured in the Historic Salisbury Foundation’s 2011 October Tour of historic homes.  This annual tour, centered in the West Square Historic District near downtown, is one of the oldest and largest fall house tours in the South. Over 35 years, the tour has featured about 135 historic structures, mostly private homes. In1975, the City of Salisbury adopted the West Square District as its first local historic district, and set forth special zoning and architectural guidelines to help preserve it. One month later, the Salisbury Historic District was nationally recognized through placement on the National Register of Historic Places. The West Square Historic District encompasses approximately thirty-one blocks, part of the original town plan of Salisbury, laid out into 112 lots surrounding the intersection with what is now Main and Innes Streets, in a rectilinear grid system that remains largely unaltered today. Much of that is included in the existing Salisbury National Historic Register District and West Square Local Historic District.  It features a solid, tightly packed collection of buildings dating from the decades following the Civil War up to the second decade of the twentieth century. The residential architecture of the West Square is quite remarkable in its wealth of variety and styles. Examples of the Federal-style, Neo-Classical Revival, Greek Revival, Italian Villa, Queen Anne, Spanish Mission, and Jacobean styles can all be found mixed throughout the district. Domestic structures date mostly from the 1820’s to the 1920’s.

The historically significant Thomas T. Maxwell Greek revival home is located 3 blocks from Main Street’s shopping, dining, galleries, and entertainment, and 1 block from museums.

This is a rare opportunity to own a museum-quality home that blends history with modern lifestyles. To get a first-hand look at this wonderfully preserved piece of history, and the opportunity to preserve history for your family, call Greg Rapp at 704.213.6846


Salisbury, founded in 1753, is the oldest town in western North Carolina, has 10 historic districts listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and has a comprehensive historic preservation program.

More Pictures of the Thomas T. Maxwell House, c. 1852, 300 W Horah Street ~ For Sale  $279,000.

November 07, 2011

1275 Country Hill Road ~ Country Living for $159,900!

This newly listed home for sale can be found in a spectacular picture-perfect park-like setting in the countryside of Salisbury NC.  This one-story home is the perfect quiet place to raise a family or to enjoy a country life-style.  1275 Country Hill Road is located in a very peaceful country subdivision, this well-maintained one-owner home features high-quality brick construction - an important consideration in North Carolina!
Walled Courtyard Patio

This nearly 1300 square foot home (over 1500 square feet with the sunroom included) has 3 good-sized bedrooms, 2-baths, and - everybody's favorite - a fireplace in the living room. A wonderfully large sunroom (242 sq ft!!), passively heated and cooled, is accessed via the kitchen, through French doors,  making entertaining a 'breeze'! A cozy wicker rocking chair or two and a good book make spending time here Heaven on earth.
What a walled courtyard garden can be!
The most special detail about this wonderful brick home is its potential for outdoor living and entertaining! The home sits on a nearly 2-acre yard with mature trees and landscaped park-like setting with your own gazebo. Not enough can be said about this beautiful yard and landscaping. An outdoor patio, just off the sunroom, features both covered and open areas to accommodate both sun & shade lovers! This is a comfortable, convenient (off the kitchen, sunroom, and garage), and enjoyable place to enjoy the country fresh air. Out to the side yard, a short walk takes you to a fabulous large walled patio area, where once was an in-ground swimming pool, that is wonderful courtyard like setting.  Filled with potted plants and patio furniture, this will be a haven for years to come! 

This home has oodles of storage capacity!  A large storage closet, and washer and dryer area are in the attached garage. The kitchen has additional pantry storage.  And . . . the property comes with not one, not two, but 3 outbuildings ~ 2 of which are wired with electricity.  Man-of-the-House...are you listening?  3 outbuildings AND a garage?  What more could you ask for?

The house, built in 1979, has a 10-year old roof.  Energy efficient replacement windows were installed 9 years ago, and the HVAC system is just 6 years old. All water lines are updated to new PVC piping.

1275 Country Hill Road has three elementary schools within a 2-5 mile radius. USDA financing is available for this country-living opportunity. The home is located just a few miles from Salisbury NC shopping malls, restaurants, and both Interstates 77 and 85, making travel to just about anywhere a snap!
Contact Salisbury Realtor Greg Rapp to really get the impact of the really marvelous park-like setting of this country home ~ a breath of fresh air and an oasis; an escape from the hustle and bustle of life.  Call 704.213.6846 to see this and more wonderful opportunities to live in Salisbury North Carolina!  
Your Country Lifestyle Home ~ for $159,900 ~ Salisbury North Carolina