Winnabow, NC (Wway) – There is an endless number of historical houses in the Cape fear that attract thousands of visitors every year.
But one hid from a rural road in Brunswick County, which was overlooked for years so that it gradually fell into expression.
Until Sarah Harris and her husband came across the property and decided to bring it back to his glorious days.
“The first time we saw it personally, it felt like it was at home. And we had to be there,” said Harris.
The property is on land, which used to be in the middle of the 1700s by Nathaniel Rice. In fact, it is assumed that parts of the roof come from the original ride -ontitis house from the 18th century.
The entire house was built around 1840 and was the birthplace of the former governor of North Carolina, Daniel Lindsey Russell, who ruled the state from 1897 to 1901 in 1845.
The apartment has passed over several owners in the more than one and a half century since the Harris acquired it and began to shine it again last year.
“Lots of HLK work, some sanitary work, a bit electrical and a lot of love went into her,” emphasized Harris.
The family says that they are grateful to the contractors that they have worked so hard to restore property.
But the availability of the house almost couldn't make it over the 1970s.
In a letter from 1975, the state's interest in the purchase of the house showed that the Brunswick County Historical Association was interested in restoring it as a museum, but it was ultimately too expensive to maintain it.
Instead, it stayed in private hands and changed the residents from one generation to the next. Harris says she is optimistic.
“Hopefully we will set up a legacy in this house that our children can continue,” said Harris.
The Harris's do the renovation work in phases, recently completed phase 1 and hope to start phase two at the end of this year or early next year. The house no longer contains as many chimneys as before, and other changes were made for security and modernization. But Sara says that the big undertaking does not startle the couple.
“It is a decision that my husband and I made together and we committed ourselves to it,” said Harris. “We know that this is not a quick solution, it is not an easy solution. And that we will be there for the rest of our lives to restore this house.”
No matter what the future brings and how long the restoration trip is, Harris says that one thing is safe.
“This is our home forever,” continued Harris. “This is the last place where I will ever live.”
A suitable future for a home with such a closed past.
The meteorologist Matthew Huddleston ('Hud') always had two great loved ones – weather and history. While you can see him talk about the weather every morning on Wway, he is looking forward to bringing you a little bit of history every Thursday on the Ways website.
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