Auction Details

Massive oak pocket doors with inset leaded glass provide the entry. The plaster cornice is highlighted with hand painting on the carved details. On the walls is a pair of Mediterranean murals, hand-crafted by the owner herself. The chandelier in the parlor is 100 year old originals

The dining room is distinguished with walls that curve up to the ceiling. Inset arches in the plaster walls provide niches for artwork. The original light fixture is a highlight of the room. The Chandelier in the dining room is not original , I found it at an Estate auction and it was made in Spain in the 20's.,round dome ceiling

The grand stairway is, well, grand, with a massive stained-glass round window set in the ceiling above. It has lighting behind and is original to the home. The stained glass at the top of the stairwell came from the Capitol Theatre circa 1928, and was installed in this home in the 80's. The stairs, in keeping with the home's theme, are of solid oak, with decorative arches in the banister wall. the light at the bottom of the stairs came from old Pinehurst Hotel.

Living Room:

The quarter sawn oak panneling which covers the walls in the main living room, was built in England and shipped over as numbered panels which were assembled on site. The parlor fireplace is rumored to have come from his friend and fellow architect Stanford White's home in New York.

Each of the fireplaces has a distinct personality. The parlor fireplace is made of hand-carved Italian marble, with a cherub at front and center of the mantel. The dining room has an intricate quarter-sawn oak mantel, and even the firebox itself has a fascinating detail. The wall behind the logs bears a carved lion's face; he lights up when the fire burns. Other fireplaces have similar bas-relief in the firebox as well, with different designs. The living room fireplace has a fleur-de-lis.

This 12 room Spanish Mission masterpiece has five or six bedrooms, two & one-half baths, 12-foot ceilings, inlaid and parquet flooring, pocket doors, detailed plaster crown moldings, skylights, stained and beveled glass, a red-tiled roof and all the amenities present on your wish list, including a beautifully designed modern kitchen very much in keeping with the style of the home.

The house, having been built in 1905, was featured in House & Gardens or House Beautiful soon after being built as an example of the a lovely designed and decorated home of that era. Frank P. Milburn, the architect that designed the handsome Salisbury Depot is credited with having designed this home that is known as the Franklin Smith House. Legend has it that the beautifully hand-carved Italian marble mantel in the front parlor had ties with the infamous Diamond Jim Brady, a prominent railroad figure in the late 1800's and early 1900's, and that the mantel was originally located in the home of architect Sanford White in New York.

As one enters from the mosaic tiled vestibule through the double bevel-glass doors (with side lights of circular cut beveled glass), you'll step into the massive and impressive front room that features beautiful inlaid flooring, a large tiled fireplace, English oak tapestry arched panels and wainscoting. The study is entered from the entry room. This room overlooks the large front verandah and has the same English wainscoting as the previous room. There is also a fireplace located here.

Beside the entry area, the big living room or parlor is located. This is a beautiful room with oak inlaid and parquet floors and the spectacular hand-carved mantel of marble. The ceiling moldings in this room are also plaster.

Behind the parlor area, the colossal master suite features an adjoining nursery and an all tiled bathroom with a skylight, whirlpool tub and separate shower.

Behind the entry room you will enter into the lovely appointed formal dining room with a concave ceiling and another massive fireplace. This room is also appointed with the oak panels, wainscoting and inlaid flooring and is the center for entertaining.

The newly installed kitchen cabinets, with glass facing on the top cabinets, are appropriately suited for the home and have been crafted from dark American oak that resembles the wood in the remainder of the home. The countertops are custom tiled and the flooring is an attractive ceramic tile.

The laundry and mud room, located off of the kitchen area, is a spacious and attractive area offering a tremendous amount of cabinet storage space and the back entryway. The additional bedrooms and bath are located on the second floor. Each room is large in size and three of the four rooms have nice mantels and fireplaces.

The recessed arcaded porch on the second floor creates asymmetry on this otherwise balanced facade. The shaped dormer and roof parapet mimic those found in Spanish Colonial buildings. The porch roofs are supported by large square piers that have decorative tile detailing at the top of each column. These reliefs are also found above each second floor window. Wooden balconies, with heavy bracket supports, extend from several second floor windows. The stuccoed chimneys have carbeled caps that extend high above the roof line, each featuring several clay flue ports. The widely overhanging eaves are open. The complex hip roof has eyebrow dormers, shaped gables and Spanish tiles. A sweeping veranda welcomes visitors and friends where there's a large, original wisteria vine on the east side that shades the porch and offers privacy. The wall surface of the home is smooth stucco over brick.

For a number of years the house was divided into multiple apartments, but returned to its single family status in 1977. The current owner has completed much of the restoration, including patching cracked stucco, reviving the landscaping, painting and restoring original woodwork, updating wiring and plumbing, etc.. A new two car detatched garage that compliments the home was added in during recent years. It is a two-story structure with steps leading to the second floor storage area. This property is an anchor home in beautiful West Square Historic District and is ideally located and in walking distance to downtown shopping, the public library, post office, restaurants and area churches.

Source Maggie Blackwell and Current Owner