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Cynthia and I bought the house in 1998
and started the restoration in 1999 and 2000.
When we bought the house it was a duplex.
So, there were some alterations to the original form of the house
that we have since taken back.
We sort of re-did all the mechanical systems since 2000.
We did all new electrical,
new plumbing, two new bathrooms,
new heating and air conditioning units
that the house had never had. It had had heating but never central air.
We also jacked the house up entirely and replaced the whole foundation.
Re-using all the original brick. So it's on a brand new foundation.
We did quite a bit of landscaping. It was overgrown as a duplex. It had been
used just as a rental. So, we did a lot of landscaping that we felt was
traditional, but the nice thing is we had
a lot of mature trees to start with.
We got great oak trees, holly trees, maple trees, great magnolia.
But we added the boxwoods
back where we thought they had done a lot of that type of landscaping.
Everything that we've done has really been with an eye toward longevity.
Like even with the front porch.
You know the porch flooring that we used is ipe.
That you know ought to outlast us all. I replaced the roof on the porch with
flat-seam soldered copper with built-in gutters.
When we remodeled the kitchen -
actually when we installed the kitchen - 'cause there was no kitchen back there -
We did custom cabinets ourselves. And did new soapstone countertops
that are also just incredibly durable.
We've enjoyed having them because you can take pots straight off the stove and
set on the soapstone countertops and it doesn't hurt anything.
They don't stain. The sink is also made out of soapstone.
The countertops and cabinets are walnut.
Cynthia and I were really
interested in putting the house back as close as we could to
the way it appeared in 1858 when it was built.
And we had paint research done.
And the colors that the house is painted now are its original colors.
One of the nice things about the landscaping is this 'Alley' that goes
out from the front. Sort of this sunken
sidewalk which is original. There's one other house in Franklin county
that is that way. But we planted the boxwoods to sort of accentuate that.
On the property also, behind the house, is a building that we refer to as the Academy.
We moved it here in about 2002.
It was built as a law academy about 5 miles north of town and we moved it here.
It's a wonderful little Georgian building.
Very very well made. It's un-restored at this point.
Sort of leaves the option of
you know a guest suite, mother-in-law suite, office ... or attached...
... when we moved it here, we sort of aligned it with the house
so it could be connected with a hallway
that goes straight to the front door of
the building. So, that it could be additional bedrooms or whatever someone needed.
The Academy, when we moved it here, I took the roof off and we moved it whole.
We also moved all the original stone from the foundation and chimney
and had the foundation and chimney relayed by a master stone mason.
So, the Academy has 2 working fireplaces.
And that's certainly a nice feature.
Behind the house in the backyard is a
little building that we refer to as the Ticket Office.
This property was originally 90 acres and I think was still 90 acres
up until maybe even the 1930's or 40's.
But the family used to lease
part of the land for the County Fair.
And this little building in the backyard was the ticket office for the Fair.
I think it got moved in the 1950's or 60's as an office in Franklinton.
And then moved back here. So, we kind of
fondly refer to it as has the Ticket Office.
Franklin County is a great agricultural community, and it's full of organic farmers -
including Volmer farms which is just over in Bunn, not far from here.
They deliver to Whole Foods and they also have a CSA program.
We participate in a CSA of sorts with a local organic farmer who delivers weekly to us -
fresh eggs and vegetables. So, there is a great community of people who are farming
and who are providing local produce to folks who live in the county and in Louisburg.
The Williamson House is in a very walkable community.
We are walkable to the Post Office,
several churches, Louisburg College and the college auditorium, which has a performing
artist series every year. Where you can go to Doc Watson and the Red Clay Ramblers
at a lot of other great performing artists.
We are walkable to Riverbend Park -
actually that is also an access to the Tar River paddle trail.
And so it's a great opportunity to get your boat on the water -
if that's something that you're interested in. We can walk to the coffee shop, to the
grocery store,
and you can even walk your dog or your cat to the vet which is about 3 or 4 blocks
over on the other side of Main Street.
The property sits on 1.7 acres that's very spacious with a lot of privacy.
It allows for a large fenced in area for dogs and other pets.
And also for a perennial garden and a vegetable garden.
So, there's a lot of room to spread out.
And there's a lot of feeling as though you're part of a community but also
that you have some room to breathe.
Louisburg is easily commutable to Raleigh and to Durham
and also to Wake Forest. Wake Forest is 20 minutes to half an hour.
Raleigh 45 minutes. Durham an hour - tops.
So, if you work from home it's great, but if you also work in the greater Triangle area, it's very convenient.
This is I think the 3rd or 4th house that I've owned that's got
protective covenants on it through Preservation North Carolina.
I think that it's an honor to
live in a house that has the kind of architectural significance that warrants
that sort of protection.
The covenants basically are designed to
maintain the architectural integrity of the house. They don't discourage additions.
They don't discourage modern conveniences
or bathrooms, kitchens, heating and air conditioning,
storm windows - all of those things are encouraged.
...I guess dogs are kind of a little unpredictable.
So, additions are allowed. Things like that - garages built
absolutely are all acceptable within the protective covenants.
We have found them very easy to live with.
I think we're honored to have a house that's on the National Register
and have protective covenants and in a National Register historic district.
We think it's quite an honor.