September 23, 2023

Built to Withstand the Ages. The Circa 1885-1890 Thomas House ~ a Restoration Waiting to Happen

Editor's Note 11/12/2023:  NEW PRICE!  $127,500!!  

Built like a rock.  Built to withstand the ages. The John Thomas House ~ a restoration waiting to happen.



Greg Rapp with Salisbury Real Estate LLC has listed the historic Thomas House in Salisbury, North Carolina for sale. The history on the Thomas House is vague, but some things we know.  Because Greg is an old-house enthusiast ~ and owns a very similar circa 1882 Victorian house in Salisbury himself ~ he is able to recognize architectural details that narrow the time frame on this fantastic home.  



Although city/county records list the home as '1900', this 2,827 square-foot Victorian Vernacular circa 1882-1890 home retains many details that are replicated in the Greg's 1882 home.  Likely a 2-room-over-2-room home originally, the house ~ as many of this era experience ~ has seen expansion and modifications.  But the staircase newel posts and handrail are identical to Greg's 1882 home. 


We won't lie to you ~ this home is a major renovation and restoration project waiting to happen.  Originally protected by Historic Salisbury Protective Covenants, somehow this house fell through the cracks. A major roof leak went sadly undetected for too long, deeply affecting many interior elements.  BUT...this house is built with the quality of materials and workmanship of a bygone era. . . and stands testimony to the reason we save these historic homes!






510 East Lafayette Street was one of the grander homes in an area that sprung up as a railroad spur neighborhood, with several textile mills in the surrounding vicinity and the mill village homes that came with that development. The exterior features some of the original elaborate detail common to late 1800s residential architecture with massive corbels, gable gingerbread trim, and decorative over-window pediment details. The home's rear view overlooks the historic Diamond Cotton Mill complex that was also once a distillery!  Historic Salisbury Foundation, owner of the home, has recently stabilized the structure with new roof and partial roof framing, repaired water/termite damage in the impressive 40' long center hallway, and freshly repainted the exterior (summer 2023).  The wonderful 36' wide by 7' deep front porch is newly rebuilt. The home was a featured property on the Foundation's annual 'History on Tap' tour this summer to show what opportunities are available to the restoration-minded!





The home needs extensive restoration before it is in livable condition: flooring, plumbing, HVAC, kitchen and bathrooms. There is newer electrical service (date unknown).  The interior needs extensive restoration.  All surfaces will need to be restored: some original flooring is in place, while other floor replacement is needed.  Obviously (see photos), walls will need to be replaced, although most framing is intact. (Original walls were once plaster, supported by the lathe you now see.)  The lower portion of the staircase needs refurbishing.





The home's layout is in the typical Victorian Vernacular style. The two front parlors are extra large, with their original 1880s fireplace mantels, as are the two front-facing upstairs bedrooms.  The home is designed to have a primary suite (bedroom and private bath) on the main level.  Many moldings and other decorative woodwork pieces that may appear to be missing, including the pieces to fill in the oval mirror surrounds on the right front parlor mantel, are stored in the front room. There are six fireplaces (nonfunctioning) in the home; three have their original mantels and surrounds, the remaining mantels appear to be missing. Huge 2-over-2 windows throughout, some with original wavy glass, fill the home with natural daylight.

The Lafayette Street area was once a booming part of Salisbury's growth in the late 19th century and was a thriving residential and commercial neighborhood with cotton mills and businesses that were built before the age of the automobile. The Thomas House, one of the more elaborate homes in the district, was likely built by one of the more wealthy industry magnates of the era.  





501 East Lafayette Street is near both the Kesler-Cannon and North Long Street/Park Avenue Historic Districts, neighborhoods rich with historic and vintage homes.  Cannon Park is a cherished local green space, and Salisbury's bustling downtown with over 25 eateries, breweries, unique shops, and theatres is just a stone's throw away.  The home's proximity to Interstate-85 brings more main-stream shopping, dining, and entertainment opportunities with chains such as Old Navy, Marshalls, Lowes and more, restaurants such as Applebee's, Olive Garden, Long Horn, and the Tinseltown Cinemax movie theater complex ~ all nearby. In addition to two local coffee shops, Salisbury hosts two Starbucks locations. Salisbury sits squarely between the large metro areas of Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and is close to High Rock Lake boating and fishing, a 2-hour drive to the Blue Ridge Mountains, and a 4-hour drive to Atlantic Ocean beaches. Salisbury's higher education opportunities include Catawba College, Livingstone College, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Hood Theological Seminary, and, down the road, Pfeiffer University.



Salisbury is home to a strong preservation movement that dates back to the 1970s when many important historic structures were facing the threat of the wrecking ball.  And now...there are stories to tell about so many, hundreds, of the grand homes and commercial structures ~ and The Thomas House can be next to tell its restoration story! 



501 Lafayette Street
is a Revolving Fund Project of the Historic Salisbury Foundation property, and as such, carries protective Historic Covenants and Deed Restrictions. Grep Rapp, with Salisbury Real Estate LLC, is the area's expert with regard to historic properties such as this vintage Lafayette Street home and can walk buyer's through the intricacies of purchase, inspections, and more. [Worth noting: Greg's personal home also carries Covenants and Restrictions (C&Rs) and he can explain how this impacts restoration and future maintenance.]


The 'bones' are in place at 501 East Lafayette Street. At 141 years standing, this home isn't going anywhere.  All that is needed is YOU.  Call Greg: 704.213.6846.  Let's do this. 


501 E Lafayette Street
Salisbury, North Carolina 28144
$135,000  $127,500
MLS#4071864










Greg Rapp 

Salisbury Real Estate LLC 
704 213 6846 Mobile 
GregRappRealtor@gmail.com 
www.realestatesalisbury.net 









August 30, 2023

Salisbury Real Estate LLC - A Proud Sponsor of History on Tap in Salisbury, North Carolina

History on Tap!

This annual 3-part series each summer in Salisbury, North Carolina highlights some amazing historic structures with intimate tours . . . AND . . . free beer!

Each summer Historic Salisbury Foundation offers a tour of three separate historic properties, while local craft brewery New Sarum Brewing Company provides free hand-crafted brews!

Salisbury Real Estate LLC is a proud sponsor of History on Tap ~ proud to show what historic preservation can accomplish.

This year, the impressive Napoleon Bonaparte McCanless House is on the H.O.T. tour. This amazing solid granite home had been lying in disrepair over the years until Realtor® Greg Rapp with Salisbury Real Estate LLC sold the property for Historic Salisbury Foundation to a couple who are currently undertaking a massive restoration of the circa 1896 building and transforming it into what will be one of Salisbury's premier event centers: The Bonaparte Castle!






Hope to see you at the next History on Tap ~ at the Bonaparte Castle!











Greg Rapp 

Salisbury Real Estate LLC 
704 213 6846 Mobile 
GregRappRealtor@gmail.com 
www.realestatesalisbury.net 









August 29, 2023

Circa 1915 Restored Bungalow ~ SOLD ~ by Greg Rapp & Salisbury Real Estate LLC

Welcome to America's favorite residential architectural style, The Craftsman Bungalow! Located in the heart of Spencer, North Carolina's Historic District, 408 Iredell Avenue is a stunning restoration of a circa 1915 bungalow from top to bottom! Listed with Greg Rapp of Salisbury Real Estate LLC, this  vintage home  - built with quality materials and construction - and NEW REMODEL has a new owner!

408 Iredell Avenue:  SOLD by Greg Rapp | Salisbury Real Estate LLC


This classic 4-bedroom house with over 2,100 square feet of living space was completely renovated with all new roof, brand new kitchen, new bathrooms, and all new HVAC, electric, and plumbing (with tankless gas water heater!) and all newly installed double-insulated windows!





First floor exterior is original 1915 pebbledash stucco ~ an essential element in the palette of the Arts and Crafts movement. Pebbledash is a form of render used for external walls in which the top coat is textured by pebbles and stone fragments to create a rough finish. The wall surface is plastered with render and the pebbledash material thrown and pressed in while still wet. Pebbledash became a popular rendering technique between the 1890s and the 1930s as part of the Arts and Crafts movement which sought to revive traditional building processes as forms of vernacular architecture. It is a highly durable exterior finish, and here in this fine example, both the first floor pebbledash and second story cedar shake shingles are boasting fresh coats of pretty pale sage paint.


Our favorite features of this beautiful home include the spacious foyer with original fireplace (non-functioning) ~ with beautiful curved doorways and an open and wonderful floor plan with gorgeous original wood floors, all freshly refinished. We loved all the original Arts & Crafts woodwork, moldings, and fireplace surrounds. And the newly installed kitchen!  Oh, WOW!







The Spencer North Carolina Historic District is just blocks away from the beautiful Library Park, the popular NC Transportation Museum, and cute town restaurants and shops. For more, it's just a hop skip and a jump to the City of Salisbury's vibrant downtown with unique shops, restaurants and microbreweries, bakeries and coffee shops, the Rowan Public Library and the fabulous Bell Tower Green central city park. High Rock Lake is just down the road, hosting water sports, boating, and swimming. And when you need to get on the road, the Historic Amtrak Station and Interstate-85 are just a stone's throw away.



This beauty is no longer available, thanks to the marketing reach of Realtor® Greg Rapp with Salisbury Real Estate LLC, who closed the deal on the home mid-August 2023!  

But there are a number of amazing vintage homes available in the Salisbury/Spencer/Rowan County area ~ conveniently located between the greater metro areas of Charlotte, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem, North Carolina....without all the traffic and other 'big city' complexities!

Call Greg at 704.213.6846 to see what's out there!  






408 Iredell Avenue
Spencer, NC 28159
CMLS#4015862
$299,900 SOLD!










Greg Rapp 

Salisbury Real Estate LLC 
704 213 6846 Mobile 
GregRappRealtor@gmail.com 
www.realestatesalisbury.net 

facebook.com/GregRappRealtor/ 
instagram.com/salisbury_real_estate_llc/ 







August 17, 2023

Another Historic Home Saved ~ and SOLD ~ with Greg Rapp & Salisbury Real Estate LLC

We loved watching as this Colonial Revival Prairie Foursquare home underwent its transformation!  And you will love the finished beauty!  Welcome to 623 South Fulton Street, the circa 1916 Heilig-Swaim House, in historic Salisbury, North Carolina!




623 South Fulton Street sits on a deep lot in the heart of Salisbury's distinguished West Square Historic District.  This neighborhood was Salisbury first designated historic district, and the area features many gorgeous homes that date from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, with plenty of sidewalks & sprawling shade trees.   This home had seen some neglect, but a restoration team has transformed it into a beautiful vintage home with all the modern amenities!  



The restoration team kept and refinished original heart pine floors throughout this home.  We can't decide if the HUGE living room, with its majestic windows that overlook the wrap-around rocking-chair front porch, is our favorite room. . . or if it's the BRAND NEW kitchen with period-influenced subway tile backsplash, quartz counter tops, the center work island & LOTS of cabinet space.  You decide!!  New bathrooms again modernize this Craftsman Era home! Small den/office/study off the formal dining room makes this an excellent work-from-home opportunity, especially with Salisbury's high-speed fiberoptic network availability!





623 South Fulton Street is approximately a 7-block walk to the thriving downtown that offers plenty of shops, restaurants, theaters (3 downtown!), two micro-breweries and the new Bell Tower Green Park.  

Why do we love this home and its story so much?  Because Realtor® Greg Rapp with Salisbury Real Estate initially sold the home to an investor who is conscious of the value and character that older homes have to offer.  Working closely with the restoration team, another vintage home gets a new life!  And we're happy to tell you that, of course, this fabulous renovation did not languish on the market.  The Heilig-Swaim House is now home for a new family!  Doing what we love, saving one house at a time, is what makes Salisbury Real Estate LLC tick!




When it's time to sell your vintage home, be sure to list with Greg Rapp, the licensed Realtor who KNOWS and understands historic properties and older structures.  And if you're that buyer that knows that this type of quality of construction and character of design just cannot be replaced in a new home, give Greg a call . . . and he will find you that historic home of your own!  704.213.6846 is the number to call!



623 South Fulton Street
Salisbury, North Carolina 28144
MLS#4045306
$339,000  SOLD: $335,000










Greg Rapp 

Salisbury Real Estate LLC 
704 213 6846 Mobile 
GregRappRealtor@gmail.com 
www.realestatesalisbury.net 









May 26, 2023

Fresh as a Daisy ~ Circa 1915 Bungalow. For Sale with Greg Rapp | Salisbury Real Estate LLC

Welcome to America's favorite residential architectural style, The Circa 1915 Craftsman Bungalow! Located in the heart of Spencer, North Carolina's Historic District, 408 Iredell Avenue is a stunning restoration from top to bottom! Listed with Greg Rapp of Salisbury Real Estate LLC, this shining home is a must-see ~ and you'll get the best of both worlds:  A vintage home built with quality materials and construction, and a NEW REMODEL fresh as a daisy!



This classic 4-bedroom house with over 2,100 square feet of living space is priced UNDER $300K and has been completely renovated with all new roof, brand new kitchen, new bathrooms, and all new HVAC, electric, and plumbing. Save on your utility bills with the newer tankless gas water heater. Even the windows are all newly installed double-insulated beauties.
First floor exterior is original 1915 pebbledash stucco. Pebbledash was an essential element in the palette of the Arts and Crafts movement. Pebbledash is a form of render used for external walls in which the top coat is textured by pebbles and stone fragments to create a rough finish. The wall surface is plastered with render and the pebbledash material thrown and pressed in while still wet. Pebbledash became a popular rendering technique between the 1890s and the 1930s as part of the Arts and Crafts movement which sought to revive traditional building processes as forms of vernacular architecture. It is a highly durable exterior finish, and here in this fine example, both the first floor pebbledash and second story cedar shake shingles are boasting fresh coats of pretty pale sage paint.


Inside, a spacious foyer with original fireplace (non-functioning) greets you ~ with beautiful curved doorways that lead you through to an open and wonderful floor plan. Get ready to be totally wowed by gorgeous original wood floors, all freshly refinished. Take in original Arts & Crafts woodwork, moldings, and fireplace surrounds. New light fixtures sparkle in sun-lit windows.


The sparkling new kitchen offers brand new Shaker-style cabinetry with under-cabinet lighting, and pretty shades-of-grey granite tops counters and a small but efficient center work island. You'll love the soft-close drawers and the Frigidaire appliance package. The original brick chimney, whitewashed to blend with the neutral color scheme provides architectural interest. New luxury vinyl plank flooring here provides cushion underfoot for the home's chef!













Between the foyer and the kitchen, a petite hall provides a transition space where you'll find a tiny first floor half-bath with all new wall and floor tile and the cutest original circa 1915 corner sink, all reglazed to look shining and new.







Circle back through to the beautiful formal dining room and spacious formal living room, with another of the home's original fireplaces with handsome tile surround.





408 Iredell Avenue offers a first-floor primary bedroom suite with a beautiful new bath that offers custom shower doors, shower bench seat, a dual vanity with solid surface counters, AND laundry area. Brand new light fixtures make this room just sparkle!  Outside this rear room, you'll find a spacious new wood deck that overlooks the deep, partially fenced-in back yard. Don't need all four bedrooms? This room would make a great den, family room, or office with deck access!





Upstairs, your steps through three more bedrooms upstairs hush with lush new neutral-toned wall-to-wall carpet and large walk-in closets. . . an amazing treat in a home of this era! Another pretty new bathroom is up here with tub and pretty star tile flooring. More gleaming wood floors are in the upper hall.








Outside, enjoy your morning coffee as the sun rises on your wide, rocking-chair front porch, supported by handsome brick and tapered columns. At the end of a concrete drive, a small single car garage can do double-duty as a large work shed.  The  workshop building has been painted since these photos were taken.  And while technically a 'garage, the structure has a wood floor that may not accommodate some vehicles.  

And again...that beautiful new deck is the perfect spot for summer al-fresco dining under the stars!





408 Iredell Avenue is just blocks away from Spencer's beautiful Library Park, the popular NC Transportation Museum, and cute town restaurants and shops. For more, it's just a hop skip and a jump to the City of Salisbury's vibrant downtown with unique shops, restaurants and microbreweries, bakeries and coffee shops, the Rowan Public Library and the fabulous Bell Tower Green central city park. High Rock Lake is just down the road, hosting water sports, boating, and swimming. And when you need to get on the road, the Historic Amtrak Station and Interstate-85 are just a stone's throw away. 

Come check it out, you won't be disappointed! Let Realtor® Greg Rapp with Salisbury Real Estate LLC, the area's premier historic property real estate company, show you how wonderful it is to own a piece of history! 704.213.6846 ~ call or text ~ let's do this!





408 Iredell Avenue
Spencer, NC 28159
CMLS#4015862
$299,900










Greg Rapp 

Salisbury Real Estate LLC 
704 213 6846 Mobile 
GregRappRealtor@gmail.com 
www.realestatesalisbury.net 

facebook.com/GregRappRealtor/ 
instagram.com/salisbury_real_estate_llc/