Other Modernist Houses Across North Carolina

1942 - 62 Ocean Boulevard, Southern Shores NC.  Designed by Harry Lawrence.  Sold to Mrs. Ahlberg from Richmond VA.  Sold in 1967 to Finley Peter Dunne.  Sold in 2006 to Peter B. Dunne and Patricia Rosenblad.

1947 - 421 Woodland Drive, Jacksonville NC. 1751 sf.  Originally, the exterior was cinder block.  Belonged to the Bakers at one time who may have been the original owners.  Sold in 1969 to current owner Mary D. Roller who bricked over the cinder block and put in a driveway.  Architect unknown, but according to Mrs. Roller's daughter, the original owner did both design and construction to create an early solar home, although she is not certain of this.  For sale in 2011.

1948 - The CC and Roberta Fleming House, 6942 Vicksboro Road, Henderson NC.  Started in 1944.  On 6 acres. Fleming, a NC native, was an aeronautical engineer who was employed with Lockheed-Vega out in Southern California during WWII. He worked on the Navy's PV-2 Harpoon (a Navy patrol aircraft which was delivered too late to see service during the war) program. During their wartime trips to the beach, Mrs. Fleming admired a home much like this that sat far up in the Malibu hills. Her husband remembered this as he set about to design this house for her.   The house is built primarily of cinder block and stucco; it required 2 years to design and 2.5 years to build. It features a bomb shelter and a hidden room, with a motorized trap door to the basement and a 67 by 32 foot oval in ground swimming pool that holds 78,000 gals of water; the pool system is also tied into a large irrigation system. The windows feature integrated screens that are raised as the window is raised. The interior and exterior lighting was ahead of its time -- simple recessed fixtures custom built by Fleming. The kitchen layout resulted from Mr. Fleming's observation and documentation of his wife's workflow during meal preparation, cleanup etc. 

Once the house was finished, it became a centerpiece for the Henderson and Vance/Warren County social scene as many parties, bridge clubs and other gatherings were hosted around the sprawling, enormous pool.  Fleming constantly added improvements such as a heat-removal system in the kitchen to dump hot air into the basement for heating re-use and the central vacuum system. 

The house was sold in 1997 to Curtis Hayes then went into foreclosure in 2006.  Bought in 2008 by John Gaffe, the house was almost a teardown.  According to Gaffe, the house had been "allowed to deteriorate, with no maintenance, and the garage roof had almost collapsed. The second story roof was leaking badly and there had been vandalism.  But we've reroofed and have gotten the structural issues resolved."  For sale 2010-2012, here.

1949 - The Charles Y. Dusenbury House, aka Fort Apache, Howard Gap Road, now Page Farm Road, Tryon NC.  Designed by Henry Hebbeln.  Featured in Quality Budget Houses by Katherine Morrow Ford and Thomas H. Creighton in 1954.  Burned down in the late 1950's.

Henry Hebbeln was a modern architect with offices in New York City. He studied with Eero Saarinen at Cranbrook Academy in Michigan and designed many residences. 

1952 - The Frank and Lib Harrison House, 5 Acorn Lane, Salisbury NC.  1.75 acres.  Conventional design built by Hugh Pinkston.  On the Salisbury Country Club golf course with many other Modernist houses by John Ramsay.  Sold to Jake Alexander.  Sold to Charles Steinman.  Sold in 2000 to current owners Gray and Heather Stout who did Modernist renovations. For since 2010.

1956 - The John Beard House, 543 Hickory Drive, Salisbury NC.  Built by the owner from a plan book, 1954 Better Homes & Gardens Five Star Home Plans, written by architects Arthur Cyrus Swab AIA and John Normile.  A 1965 renovation/addition designed by John Hartledge added the butterfly roof, second photo.  Sold in 2007 to current owners Marc and Anne Hoffman.  2650 sf on the main level, with a 900 sf boiler room/garage/shop - and a bomb shelter. The original owner loved fine wood and other unique finishings. As a result, the house includes cypress, mahogony, and walnut paneling, plus cork and cherry flooring.  The blueprints show it was one-level by original design with the garage being the space on the upper floor, above the existing basement. 

1959 - The Betty McCandless House, 2007 New Bern Street, Kill Devil Hills NC.  Built by Robert Young, who copied it from Frank Stick's designs.  Sold to B. J. McCandless.  Received Historical Landmark designation from Kill Devil Hills NC.

Late 1950's - The Ben K. Graves House, Mount Airy NC.  Designed by Cecil D. Elliott (photo above) and Marvin R. A. Johnson.  Mechanical Engineer T. C. Brown.  Built by Nichols and Snyder of Mount Airy.  An Architectural Record House of 1956.

1962 - The Matthew and Edna Yenney Residence, 3621 Winstead Road, Rocky Mount NC. Designed by architect John L. Thompson.  Was on the market about two years.  Sold in 2007 to current owners John and Megan Hammer, who gutted it and did an extensive renovation.  They added a 1500 sf guest house in 2009 designed/built by M-squared Building Solutions.  Part of the TMH Downeast Modernist House Tour 2011.

Around 1963 - The Philip Moose House, Blowing Rock NC.  Designed by Paul Braswell.  Built by Wilson Contracting.  Engineering by Gardner Elsevier Kline.  Sculpture by Ed Johnson of Raleigh.  Photos by A. Haynes Dunlap and George L. Honeycutt. 

1963 - The E. H. Austin House, 2132 Rivershore Road, Elizabeth City NC.  Designed by Ed Pugh, Jr., who died in 1983.  Sold in 1998 to Timothy and Connie Ketton.  Sold to Robert McClendon and Ray Spencer Meiggs, Jr.   For sale in 2012. 

1965 - The Kenny or Kennedy House, 520 Inwood, Asheboro NC.  Sold around 1968 to Ann Schwarz.  She recalls the architect as Kilpaki or Kilpatrick; the house was built by Burlington Mills for one of their officers to entertain out of town guests as the county was dry at that time.  Schwarz sold in 2002.  For sale 2010-2011. Rented out in 2012.

Around 1965 - The Harry Vale House, Southern Pines NC. Designed by Austin and Faulk of Southern Pines.  Built by Van Thomas of Siler City. 

1966 - The Richard Hunt House, 4009 Hawthorne, Rocky Mount NC. 4000sf.   Designed by Charles Robert (Bob) Shields (1928-2010) and William Robert Wyatt (1918-about 1989).  Shields was born in Hobgood NC.  He moved to Scotland Neck in 5th grade and graduated from high school there. He got a BS in Architectural Engineering at NCSU in 1949.  He was with the Army Corps of Engineers in Norfolk, working on the Kerr Dam 1949-1951 then served in the Air Force from 1951-1953.  He worked with Thomas, Harles & Edwards in Rocky Mount from 1953-1957, then back to Norfolk with Lublin McGaughy & Associates from until 1959 then started Shields & Wyatt Architects in Rocky Mount. Their practice lasted almost 30 years.  When Wyatt passed away in the late 1980's, the firm downsized. 

Shields, pictured above, retired in 1993 then moved to Boone NC and worked part-time for various firms.  Wyatt was born in Wilson NC.  He graduated from VPI in 1941 then was in the Army until 1945.  He worked as a draftsman for Charles C. Benton & Sons and Thomas, Harles & Edwards before starting Shields & Wyatt in 1959.  The house was the Sunset Magazine Home of the Year in either 1963 or 1966.  Wyatt's initials are on the plans.  Sold to current owner John Gessaman. 

 

1966 - The Jaffe House, 24299 Seabreeze R03, Rodanthe NC.  Named for the architect, Norman Jaffe.  Designed and built for the Peel family, who bought the land in 1964. The lot went from the ocean to the sound and was probably 75 feet wide. Construction began in 1965.  Sold in 1999 to Mike Evans who had it moved back off the ocean and a little higher off the ground and put in steps and railings.  Sold in 2011 to Michael and Jan Rabe who did a restoration, bottom two photos.

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1973 - The Joseph (Jay) L. and Janice L. James House, 6128 Riverside Drive, Wake Forest NC.  Designed and built by "Renaissance man" and builder Jay James.  Steel framework.  Original pool was converted to a sunroom.  It was the first passive solar house in Raleigh. According to Janice James,  Dean Henry Kamphoefner took NCSU students at the School of Design there for years to see the unique architecture. Written up in NC Architect for its hexagonal construction and energy efficiency.  TMH toured it in 2011.

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Around 1974 - The Ernest A. and Suzanne L. (Sue) Anderson House, near Grandfather Mountain NC.  Designed by Mike Tribble of Charlotte.  Sold to Lawrence C. Hendricks in 2006.   No address.  Do you know where it is?

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1975 - The Padden House, New Bern NC.  Designed by Norman Jaffe.  Unbuilt.

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1975 - The Robbie and W. Kent Cooper House, 106 Cypress, Pine Knoll Shores NC.  Designed by Robbie Cooper.  Includes a guest house.  Sold in 2005 to niece Frances W. Marshall and husband Francis S. Carson.  Sold in 2012.

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1976 - The Gordon E. Burns, Jr. House, 2225 Airport Road, Whispering Pines NC.  Designed by Gordon E. Burns, Jr, who co-designed the Southern Pines Airport across the street.  There were multiple sales/owner combinations by the Burns family.  Sold in 1993 to Larry and Peggy Dunham. Sold in 1996 to Peggy Durham, as of 1997 Peggy B. Schaffer.  There is an architectural model of the house which has no information on the architect.  Went into foreclosure.  For sale in 2011. 

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1978 - The Robert and Rochelle Grubb House, 818 Country Club Drive, Lexington NC.  Designed by Guy Bertoli.  5 acres.  Sold to Sheldon Beck, who did a renovation.

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1978 - The Alex Kotarides Vacation House, aka the Mary Jane House, 27568 NC Hwy 12, Salvo NC.  Designed by Lewis Rightmier of Norfolk VA. Three first floor king bedrooms along with a funky fourth bedroom in the loft with two twins, low ceilings, a skylight and a half bath, perfect for kids. The huge loft includes a 9 foot pool table, vintage Rene Pierre foosball table, 1980’s video game machine and home theater.  Available for vacation rental.  TMH readers get a 10% discount by contacting Edas Zemaitis directly at edasz@hatterasrealty.com.

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1979 - The John and Donna B. Steely House, 326 College Street, Wake Forest NC.  Architect unknown.  Photo by Ericka Giroux.

1979 - 4036 Timberwolf, Sanford NC.  Designed by Jerry Quick.  Sold in 2012.

 

1983

1984 - The Samuel Wornom Residence, 1520 Tomberlin, Sanford NC.  Designed by Derrell Mullins of Mullins-Sherman in Sanford.  Built by John William Brown with carpenters Lawton Maddox and Gene McNeil.  Like most Modernist houses in small communities, the locals referred to it as a "monstrosity" but have warmed to the design over the years.  As of 2011, still owned by the Wornoms.  A new roof was added in 2011.

 

1990 - 165 National Drive, Pinehurst NC. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms.  Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright's grandson, Eric Lloyd Wright. Sold to John and Judy Fitzgerald. Sold in 2003 to Matthew and Lisa Oldroyd.  Went on the market in early 2009 then rented for a while. Sold in 2010 to Matthew and Lisa Charlebois. 

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1995 - The Robert and Carolee Desowitz House, 45 Woodenbridge Lane, Pinehurst NC.  Designed by Stagaard and Chao.  Built by Yates Hussey.  Went on the market in September 2011.

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2000 - The Roger T. Eubank House, 60 Braemar, Pinehurst NC. Designed by Stagaard and Chao. Sold in 1998 to Ralph E. and Solita Hawes, Jr. Was on the market during 2011, then withdrawn. Includes a custom designed negative edge lap pool.

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2008 - The Kim Wagner Residence, 92 Elam Court, New Hill NC.  Designed by Kim Wagner of Wagner Architecture.  Built by Tonic Construction.

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2009 - The Philip and Susan Lozier House, 525 Walnut Hill, Hillsborough NC. Designed by architect Philip Lozier. Built by Spyglass Building Company.

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Year Unknown - 1232 Hwy 98 East, just over the Wake/Franklin County line. Photo by Ericka Giroux.

Year Unknown - The Floyd Griffin House, Louisburg NC.  Photo by Ericka Giroux.

Projected 2012 - The Jim Schaefer Residence, South Landing Lot #6, Leasburg, NC. 
Designed by Felipe Assadi and Francisca Pulido of Chile.  As of August 2011, awaiting construction.