Possibly Buying a 1750 Colonial?

[letty]

Letty, ya know? It could have been a two over two now that I look closer at the pics. Just so small it's a hard call, but the house is somewhat shallow looking.

Funny - after I read what you posted, I looked at the picture and thought maybe it was not as shallow as I thought!

Looks like the house got really messed up at some point.

Assessors database says "house remodeled in 1971"

The stairs are exactly as you have shown except in the opposite direction. They start on the left.

Like this?



If you are serious about going ahead with this purchase - I know a restoration guy who will come and do an assessment - walk around with you, talk about issues, answer questions etc. Not sure what it would cost, maybe a couple hundred bucks?

While the tiny human sleeps I'm going to see what the registry of deeds has to say about the property - maybe something exciting!

[James]

Hi, interesting post. Always good to see another 18th century place on here. Not a lot of us around. Can't help you with whether or not the place was a central chimney, tho it seems likely to me given where it is. But central chimneys as has been discussed here before just don't exist in this part of the world so no expertise with that I'm afraid.
She does look to have potential, obviously the first thing needed is the new roof. As for adding on, it's not something I would have a problem with, especially if the section you want to change is a newer addition. The older that part is, the more it would bother me to change it by raising the roof.
My biggest concern is she looks to be way to low to the ground, but maybe that is normal up there, especially with basements. Don't know any 18th century houses in North Carolina with basements, unless its an English basement, essentially built on a ground level slab with the first floor raised up(Hope Plantation has that).
Would be great if someone could try and bring back some real character to this place, she's clearly been abused.

[kat]

This is my 1750 house about 29 yrs before rennovation, no one lived in it during that period,

Although lots of work to be done it is possible
'
just depends on money, how much time you want to spend on house, how much work u can do yourself.

goodluck

[kat]

The house after initial rennovation

[kat]

[kat]

Additions arent bad, the two window room you see in the very back in a 1999 addition, but the whole right side of the house as you look at it was added in 1800, even back then families grew and wanted changes, i have a georgian house with greek revival details inside bc in the lady of the house in 1840 wanted to rennovate : )

[James]

Kat, so cool that you have posted pictures of Farmers Delight. Its such a cool house. I believe this is the first time you have posted pictures of it on here isn't it?

[kat]

I am slow, just figured it out

Need to post the state archive photos to REALLY appreciate the change inside, it was not habitable except fir the bats and woodchuck

Will try and get some old and new up soon

[Lessa]

Letty - The stairs look just like that if I remember correctly. How did you do with the deed research? I was pulling deeds on the Registry website a few days ago. I'm going to get back into it tonight, I think. Curious to see if you came up with the same things I did. From the quick historical research I did, the home should have belonged to a John Usher. According to the historical society, it belonged to a John Chamberlain. The historical society is going to send me some pictures and old newspaper articles about the home.

Kat - Your house looks amazing! I hope someday I can have a home as beautiful as that. Just have to work on the significant other's participation in all of this.

[Lessa]

I'll take your list with me, Greg! I'm waiting to hear back from the real estate agent. If I can't get IN the home, I'll at least get what I can from the outside (though the garage door can be pushed open and the interior door isn't locked..ha!).

It's funny you mention taking what they say with a grain of salt... apparently the previous owner of the house joined the historical society. Not sure why you'd join a historical society while subsequently destroying the interior of your historic home. The house looked mid-renovation (again) when I was there and it's not a good thing. The ceilings are terrible. Textured with that lovely brush swirl technique. The ceiling in the kitchen had been ripped down and all the original wood construction iss exposed. I remember there being a boxed beam across the living room space going lengthwise across the original house. I can't remember if it was in the other "parlor" too.