Mooresville, NC (Iredell County)

This home is a rare find, an impressive example of a Federal Vernacular Style Plantation Farmhouse and a significant piece of American History and is located in one of the prime locations in the area, sitting just one mile south of the new Lowes home improvement, $500 million corporate headquarters, and 1.5 miles north of the historic town of Davidson and the prestigous Davidson College. Two major structures of the property include the main structure which has over 3,500 heated sq ft and the separate "carriage house" which has approximately 1,500 sq ft. The Carriage House is totally stand alone and has it's own systems, bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom. In addition, for your special children, there is a separate, precious lofted custom play house in the back yard adorned with a custom bed, carpeting,and is electrically wired with a refrigerator in addition to being air conditioned. The main house dates to Circa 1818 and was built by the famous Revolutionary Patriot Captain James Houston and served as one of the first post offices in the state, as well as being a resting place for weary travelers traveling the Great Wagon Road, now Hwy 115. Later Dr. George Houston used the home as a field hospital during the Civil War for Southern Troops transported by train on the still existing, but now seldom used rail line across from the home. In 1980 the home was granted status on the National Register of Historic Homes and is also recognized on the Iredell County Register, which gives the property a 50% tax credit. The State of North Carolina's Dept. of Cultural Resources acknowledges this home as one of the oldest and finest homes of this style in North Carolina. The home was featured in the 1992 Charles Kuralt's documentary film, "North Carolina is My Home". In 1998 the home was purchased by the current owners who did a remarkable restoration of the home as it is today making the home truly a preservationsist's dream as it has retained 95% of the original 1818 materials, including the hand hewn logs, hand blown glass panes, hand made bricks, virgin heart of pine floors, five fireplaces and mantles, cabinets and their hardware/hinges, all interior moldings, original stair cases and most of the interior wall boards and doors. (Note: most rooms are still the original color,(original goat milk paint). Two of the most impressive rooms are the entry foyer room, with the exposed logs and two large beautiful blown glass chandeliers, and the dining room/event room (which is almost 600 sq ft) which contains an original, built in over the fireplace, china cabinet with hand-blown glass, bronzed sconces with 2 matching bronze chandeliers sitting atop the ornate plaster ceiling decorations. The yellow faux finish of this room along with the large windows of hand blown glass make it breathtaking. The home has been well taken care of thru the years and the restoration will last for generations to come as the foundation was completely redone with over 70 piers now supporting the home in addition to placement of a new metal, 50 year warranty roof in 2004 at a cost of over $50,000. All mechanical systems are modernized and are in excellent working condition including electrical, plumbing, HVAC (gas and electric), water heaters (2, 100 gallon, gas), 5 premium tiled floor bathrooms with two large Jacuzzi tubs, a modern premium kitchen with custom maple cabinets, custom tiled countertops, reproduction pewter tin ceiling, professional Viking gas range and stainless hood, Jennaire, built-in convection double oven, a Franke professional sink with center colander, and a Kitchen Aid sanitizing dishwasher. Each individual room is wired for phone and cable and the house has a large separate laundry room centrally located. The home has beautiful breezy covered porches that total approx. 600 sq ft in addition to an open deck in the back which is approx. 300 sq ft. Originally the main house was a Bed and Breakfast and the Carriage House was used as a catering center, meeting center, supply storage and for extra bedrooms upstairs. today this home can easily be reopened as a Bed and Breakfast, a Convention Center, a Catering Center, a Community Cultural Center, a Wedding Event Center or numerous other income producing activities. Or you can enjoy it being your most unique historical residence. The house sits on a level, lightly wooded one acre tract just minutes from Davidson College in a very country setting yet close to major shopping, schools, churches, etc. Additional acreage is available. For more historical details, etc. contact the listing office.