Piedmont Historic Homes

• $1.699 million (originally $1.95 million, later $1.295 million)
• 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2,839 square feet, 8.26 acres
• Price/square foot: $598
• Built in 1798 (per NRHP nomination)
• Listed August 12, 2020
• Last sale: $275,000, February 2014
• Note: The house was built by the Hanes family’s first ancestor in Forsyth County.

When a house is priced at almost $600 per square foot — even if it’s an impressively historic, beautifully restored house on 8 acres — you have to wonder if that may be an issue. In almost five years, the owners haven’t received an acceptable offer, even after lowering the price (a bit).

NRHP nomination: “In the late 1940s, the interior of the house was remodeled according to plans prepared by Winston-Salem architect William Roy Wallace. When the present owners renovated the house in 2014-2015, they restored some of the original features based on physical evidence, retained some of the 1940s features when there was no evidence of earlier treatments, and made a few changes based on personal taste. …

“Even with the alterations of the 1940s and 2014-2015, the house still strongly projects the feeling of a substantial and sophisticated dwelling from the turn of the nineteenth century in Forsyth County.”

An 1870 House in Milton

• $249,900 (originally $149,500)
• 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,948 square feet, 0.37 acre
• Price/square foot: $128
• Built around 1870: Historic records say circa 1870, county records show 1882.
• Listed March 29, 2018
• Last sale: $35,000, July 1994
• Neighborhood: Milton Historic District (NR)

This one has been actively for sale for only two years or so since it was first listed seven years ago, but, still, several historic homes in Milton have been snapped up relatively quickly in that time.

From the invaluable Caswell County North Carolina website: “The entrance is graced by a double-leafed door surrounded by a transom with sidelights which leads into a side hall featuring a partition of Ionic columns with scroll and garland motifs. Many original features remain [as of August 2012] including woodwork, plaster, wainscoting, paneled doors and hardware. Decorative tile surrounds the elegant mantels in the parlor, dining room and bedrooms. The mahogany parlor mantel has a beveled mirror with ornate columns. The beautiful full length windows leading from the parlor to the front porch and side balcony instill daylight into the rooms. The handsome staircase features decorative stair brackets and newel post.”

The original owners were Dr. John Wilson Jr. (1828-1892) and Cornelia Washington Stevenson Wilson (1830-1901). Dr. Wilson was a physician and educator who had served as a surgeon in the Confederate army. He was known statewide as a teacher and school administrator. In 1869 he was offered a professorship in Latin at Davidson College. In the late 1870s, he was reported to be practicing medicine and conducting surgery in Milton. He was active in Democratic Party politics and was a prohibitionist, but, come on, you can’t hold that against him now, can you?

115 S. Pearl Street, Troy, Montgomery County
Listing withdrawn June 19, 2020; relisted August 15, 2020
Sale pending May 9, 2021; no longer under contract May 9, 2021
Listing withdrawn February 16, 2022 (price: $549,900)
Relisted June 30, 2024

• $499,000 (originally $599,000)
• 6 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms, 4,978 square feet (per county), 0.42 acres
• Price/square foot: $100
• Built in 1892
• Listed July 14, 2019
• Last sale: Possibly 1910, can’t be determined from online sources.
• Listing: The house was built in 1892 and 1910 with two additions in the 1980s.

Previous listing: “A portion of the home was the original town post office and has remained in the same family since 1910.”

The place has plenty of personality: “Remington chandeliers from Pennsylvania, mahogany over-mantles from plantations on the Mississippi River, fireplaces throughout. Hidden doorways and many nooks and crannies with quirky charm. … An impressive 2 story pine paneled entrance with original oak floors, stained glass window, and a massive staircase … Original 10′ & 12′ stamped metal ceilings. Elegant formal dining room has been known to seat 30+ family and guests. A fully stocked library with volumes of antique books. … 20×36 foot wine cellar in basement with stone fireplace and steel reinforced storm shelter.”

But wait — there’s more! The house has an entertainment/game/billiard room with a pool table (included in the sale). “An indoor pool remains structured under the large billiard room floor if so desired to convert back into function.”

Two additional lots also can be purchased; they were previously included in the listing, which may account for the lower price now. One has a 64-by-32 garage that holds approximately 18 cars, according to the previous listing.

815 Woodland Drive, Greensboro
The Glenn-Duke House
Listing removed and relisted six times since May 2011
Listing withdrawn August 1, 2022; relisted October 29, 2022
Listing removed November 1, 2023
Relisted February 22, 2025

• $1.675 million (originally $1.89 million, later $1.59 million)
• 4 bedrooms, 5 1/2 bathrooms, 5,458 square feet (per county), 0.70 acre
• Price/square foot: $307
• Built in 1925
• Listed January 8, 2011
• Last sales: $1.7 million, June 2004; $106,000, June 1973
• Neighborhood: Irving Park Historic District (NR)
• Note: Designed by Charles Hartmann, one of Greensboro’s premier architects
  • Site of the 2005 Junior League Designer Showhouse

OK, rich people, what’s the problem here? This house looks like the epitome of a mansion in Greensboro’s stateliest old neighborhood. And it’s been for sale, off and on, for 14 years? And the owner is willing to sell at a loss? What’s going on here?

District NR nomination: “a large two-story brick Colonial Revival dwelling with a slate-covered hipped roof and hipped dormers. A handsome Georgian Revival entrance is centered on the seven-bay facade. Two bay windows project from the south side of the house. A large one-story addition with Palladian windows and metal roof has been added recently [1990] to the north side. A brick wall encloses the back yard.” What’s not to like?