Piedmont Historic Homes

1056 N. Main Street, Mount Airy, Surry County
The Edgar Harvey Hennis House

• Sold for $560,000 on August 19, 2021 (originally $649,900)
• 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3,798 square feet, 0.78 acre
• Price/square foot: $147
• Built in 1909
• Listed March 15, 2021
• Last sale: $187,000, August 2017
• Neighborhood: Lebanon Hill Historic District

• Listing: “The main home has 4 BR’s & 2 full baths; Formal LR, DR, Den, & Southern Kitchen. The upper level has a separate kitchen, to allow for multipurpose living, & lots of unfinished attic space which could easily convert to more living area or baths. The Carriage House has a fully functional apartment for separate living space, & a 2-3 car garage.”
  • National Register nomination: “The Edgar Harvey Hennis House is significant both architecturally and for its historical associations. Located at 1056 North Main Street in Mount Airy, the house is a handsome, intact example of early twentieth century design reflecting influences of the late Victorian and Colonial Revival styles.
  • “The large, well-detailed, asymmetrical one-and-one-half story brick veneer house features multiple projecting shingled gables with Palladian and round-arch windows, projecting bays, windows with beveled glass transoms, a generous, U-shaped wrap-around porch and a wealth of original interior decorative woodwork, mantelpieces and hardware.
  • “Granite, the hallmark Mount Airy building material, is used for window sills and lintels, porch plinths, foundation, and retaining wall.
  • “Constructed in 1909, the Hennis House is the earliest known residence built on Lebanon Hill. Lebanon Hill was a center of early Mount Airy suburban development from the 1910s through the mid-1930s. Located approximately three-quarters of a mile north of the central business district, Lebanon Hill was the site from 1831 to c. 1858 of the town’s first Methodist Church.
  • “The house was constructed for Edgar Harvey Hennis (1884-1965), a prominent early Mount Airy businessman, horse trader and, later, long-time owner of the town’s Chrysler automobile dealership. Hennis’ wife, Susan (1883-1983) owned the house until her death. The house remained virtually unltered during their seventy-four year occupation. The present owner has preserved the house and sensitively renovated the kitchen, baths and attic space.