Andrews-Duncan House, 9 September 2018. 8×10 tintype by author.

The long-languishing Andrews-Duncan House at 407 North Blount Street may have shed its last window screen, tossed its last corbel, and dropped its last roof slate. After years on the market, the State of North Carolina has a pending buyer for this property. The new owner plans to restore the house and what is even better… No wedding venue, office, or event space here—incredibly, the new owner intends to live in the seven bedroom, six bathroom, 10,000-plus square-foot mansion.

Andrews-Duncan House September 2018.

The attention and care a live-in owner could offer this property is long overdue. The eaves are rotted, the paint is severely deteriorated at nearly 40 years old, and brackets and other original wooden trim pieces have simply fallen to the ground in recent years.

Time, coupled with the catalyst of neglect, have taken their toll.

North side, Andrews-Duncan House, September 2018. Photograph by author.

Homeless individuals now take shelter on the front porch. Photograph by author.

Heavily adorned chamfered porch posts—likely old-growth heart pine milled (and possibly felled) in Johnston County at Wilson & Waddell’s sawmill. The same sawmill that supplied lumber for the Heck-Andrews House next door. Photograph by author.

First floor front rooms c. 2015. Photograph by author.

Stair in main hall c. 2015. Photograph by author.

Basement fire place c. 2015. The locally quarried coursed stone foundation can be clearly seen here. Photograph by author.

The Andrews-Duncan House was designed in the Italianate style by George S. H. Appleget and constructed by builders Wilson and Waddell. If these names sound familiar, it’s because both were associated with the construction of the Heck-Andrews House built next door only a few years earlier.

The house was completed in 1873 and commissioned by Colonel Alexander Boyd Andrews (1841-1915) a construction magnate, railroad executive and capitalist. Andrews started his working life as a child. After his mother died in 1852 when he was just 11 years old, he was taken in by his uncle, Philemon Hawkins—a railroad developer. It was Hawkins who introduced the bright young man to the railroad industry. Andrews was an eager, quick study and within just a few months of working for his uncle on railroad construction projects in Western NC he was promoted to high-ranking positions including general superintendent and paymaster. He continued working with his uncle until the outbreak of the Civil War. After the war, nursing wounds from the battlefield, Andrews found himself destitute, but through family connections and a good amount of his own smarts he eventually became superintendent of the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad. Seven years later, he built his grand residence on North Blount Street where he would live with his wife Julia and their five children until his death in 1915. It is told that the day of Andrews’ funeral, a great many Raleigh businesses closed down to attend and out of respect. He was a highly respected and well-loved figure, not only in Raleigh, but the entire state. Charismatic and philanthropic, he was known to regularly donate to charities that helped the poor.

Alexander Boyd Andrews, Sr. c. 1900. Photograph courtesy, State Archives of North Carolina. N.53.16.1430

Andrews’ second child, Alexander Boyd Andrews, Jr. (1873-1946) was born in Henderson, NC during the construction of the house and was less than a year old when the Andrews family moved into their new home in the winter of 1873. A New Year’s Day, 1874 article in the Raleigh Daily News stated, “Captain A. B. Andrews, Superintendent of the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad, has moved into his new and handsome residence on Blount Street.”

Andrews, Jr. spent his formative years in the giant house and is said to have had a lifelong fondness for the house directly next door—the well-known Heck-Andrews House. In 1921, Andrews, Jr. purchased the house he’d admired since childhood and undertook a sizable renovation effort. The house was a gift to his wife Helen who is said to have highly enjoyed decorating the interior. Sadly, Helen unexpectedly died before work was finished–she was 42. Now a widower, Andrews, Jr. spent his remaining years living alone in the house and often entertained, but never remarried.

A. B. Andrews, Jr. and his wife, Helen, posing in a novelty photo set at Atlantic Beach. c. 1920.
Photograph courtesy of The State Archives of North Carolina.
N.94.12.68

Main hall of Andrews-Duncan House with wedding gifts displayed after the marriage of A. B. Andrews’ daughter, Jane. 10 April 1901.
Photo by Cyrus P. Wharton, Courtesy State Archives of NC. N.94.12.57.

Parlor of Andrews-Duncan House with wedding gifts displayed after the marriage of A. B. Andrews’ daughter, Jane. 10 April 1901.
Photo by Cyrus P. Wharton, Courtesy State Archives of NC. N.94.12.57.

In 1919, several years after the death of Andrews, Sr., 407 North Blount was sold to newlyweds, Paul L. Pearson, a Raleigh dentist, and Laura Duncan Pearson. The couple lived in the house until around 1929 when Paul moved to Apex while Laura stayed on Blount Street. By 1937, their marriage had ended, and Laura is no longer listed in Raleigh city directories as Laura D. Pearson, instead as Laura Duncan. In 1938, she opened the house to tenants, running it as a rooming house until her death in 1968 at age 91.

Below, the house can be seen in the background during the dedication of the Henry Clay monument. The Henry Clay Oak stood near the street on the south lawn until 1991. This venerable oak tree was thought to have predated the City of Raleigh and is told to have been shade for Whig presidential candidate Henry Clay as he penned his famous Raleigh Letter, which explained why the annexation of Texas without Mexico’s consent would “compromise the character of the nation, involving us certainly in war with Mexico and probably with foreign powers.” The letter cost him the presidential election and correctly predicted the triggering of the Mexican-American War. When asked to defend his position he replied, “Right or wrong, I am standing by the doctrines of the Whig Party. I had rather be right than be President.”

Sue Tucker Eason (left) and Diane Russell Kirchofer (right) stand on either side of the Henry Clay Oak marker unveiled 20 October 1939 beneath the Henry Clay Oak tree on Blount Street. NO.39.10.79. From the News and Observer Collection, State Archives; Raleigh, NC. Copyrighted by the News and Observer.

Henry Clay Oak c. 1917. Note chimney and side porch, both long gone, are seen in this photograph. From the Albert Barden Collection, courtesy State Archives of NC. N.53.15.1653

In 1972 the State of North Carolina purchased the house from Duncan Heirs. It was converted to office space and occupied by a division of the State Bureau of Investigation for several decades while slowly moldering into its current state of disrepair.

Andrews-Duncan House, March 1980. Photograph by Karl Larson. From the Karl Larson Photograph Collection, State Archives of NC.

For the first time in over 80 years, the Andrews-Duncan house has had a turn of luck. Its proximity to the Heck-Andrews House has always been a bit of a thorn in its side. The Heck House steals everyone’s eyes for itself, it is florid and feminine—demure, while almost forcefully commanding your attention. From ~1950-1990 the Heck House had zero maintenance. The paint vanished, the tower windows were shuttered, thickets grew in the once opulent lawn. Even during this time of neglect, it captured hearts and electrified imaginations. It has been overshadowing and outshining everything around it, in sickness and in health, since it was built.

Heck-Andrews House c. 2015. Black glass ambrotype by author.

The Andrews House is on the opposite side of the street—literally and figuratively. It is the antithesis of delicate; a stout, regal structure—understated in the most bombastic way possible. Passersby see it, they note that it is big, old and crusty. Some mental table scraps of reverence are tossed its way for diligently checking off those boxes, but it has never gotten the deep reverence and affection the Heck House has received all these years. But with a new owner willing to spend large amounts of time and money, it may soon siphon off a bit of the spotlight that has shone upon the Heck House for so long.

Here’s hoping, anyway.

Andrews-Duncan House as it appeared in 1970. Photograph courtesy of The State Archives of North Carolina. N.70.4.259

Dear Goodnight Raleigh readers,

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the June 30, 2018 passing of Karl Edward Larson, known to readers and friends alike as Raleigh Boy. He battled a brief illness with optimism and strength.

Karl came of age in the 1960s, a time of energetic and abrupt transition in Raleigh. Citizens watched as the city changed some with anger, some with hope. Karl was able to view the changes in an historical perspective. Perhaps influenced by his father’s love of history, he recognized at a young age that the new construction, urban renewal and demolition of historic Raleigh homes and buildings were worth documenting”and document he did. He rode the streets of Raleigh by bike with his Kodak Instamatic camera, snapping photographs of his changing city. He recorded the growth, destruction, stagnation, rot and every crack in between. In so doing, he formed a bond with his hometown that would never waver.

Raleigh was Karl’s primal landscape–the benchmark on which he compared all others. He devoted countless hours to studying Raleigh’s history; filing away not only names and dates, but astute historical analysis peppered with the right amount of perspective, imagination and curiosity.

Those of you who had the pleasure of his company know of his humble and kind nature, engaging conversation and unmistakable laugh–a sometimes quite raucous “YUK, yuk, yuk!” often accompanied by “Lordy mercy!” or “Girl, I swear!” It was rare that I saw Karl in a state anything short of a decent mood. His infectious conviviality earned him many friends. I considered him my best friend, but he wasn’t the type to choose favorites. In addition to friendship, Karl taught me volumes of Raleigh history, but what he didn’t teach me, I learned myself using skills he taught me about research, how to objectively and fairly perceive and analyze the past, and how to notice and remember details.

For nearly a decade, Karl’s posts on Goodnight Raleigh have entertained and educated many thousands. Thankfully, that will continue as his voice lives on in written word. His legacy and monument lie in the great numbers of people he touched through friendship, educated and instilled within a stronger sense of place.

Goodnight, Raleigh Boy. Requiescat in pace.

You can read more about Karl’s life here: https://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/article214803170.html

N_53_16_4749 From the Albert Barden Collection, State Archives; Raleigh, NC.

Pictured is the office of the Carolina Oxypathor Co. located at 124 W. Martin Street c. 1913, just a few doors down from the original News and Observer building. The photograph above was likely taken for an advertisement.

Oxypathor—It already sounds bogus, right? Well, your suspicions are well-founded. In the early 1900s, as the marvels of electricity continued to permeate the everyday lives of Americans, the science behind electricity was a mystery to most people—it was magic. This presented a lucrative opportunity for quacks and charlatans across a variety of fields.

Women are seen inside the office of the Carolina Oxypathor Co. N.53.17.519 From the Albert Barden Collection, State Archives; Raleigh, NC.

One quack in particular, E. L. Moses of Buffalo, NY, developed the Oxypathor in 1910. This device consisted of a piece of tubular shaped metal filled with sand while its attached wires were fitted to a person’s wrists and ankles. The metal part sat in a bowl of water while the “patient” enjoyed the benefits of large quantities of oxygen absorbed through the skin. The Oxypathor claimed to heal a variety of conditions including disorders of the blood, pneumonia, typhoid fever, etc.

Oxypathor device seen in display case at NC State Fair.
N.53.16.4746 From the Albert Barden Collection, State Archives; Raleigh, NC.

N.53.15.4971 From the Albert Barden Collection, State Archives; Raleigh, NC.

Pictured is Morgan Street looking west at its intersection with Boylan Avenue. The large house seen on the left is roughly the same location as present-day Planned Parenthood. The house seen on the right (704 West Morgan Street) is extant, although modified. Likely sometime in the 1950s it gained asbestos siding and lost its porch. Thankfully, its Italianate eave brackets remain to this day.

Incredibly, this photograph wasn’t taken in the icy grips of winter—it was taken in spring, Easter Sunday of 1915 to be exact, after a destructive and record breaking weather event that crippled North Carolina and several other states. The front page of the News and Observer read, “Raleigh Flounesed [sic] In Grasp of Its Greatest Blizzard.” It was the deepest snow seen so late in spring and it decimated North Carolina’s electrical and communications infrastructure—toppling telegraph, telephone and power poles. The streetcars halted and the Edison bulbs dimmed as a result of high winds and wet snow falling continuously for over 17 hours. The newly formed Carolina Power and Light was the supplier of the juice and tasked with restoring service. To begin surveying the damage in Raleigh, CP&L sent employees and a photographer (possibly Cyrus P. Wharton or Manly Tyree) out to document the damage and cut live wires. They set out from the central substation at Method Road and headed east on Hillsborough Street, making photographs and surveying the destruction.

The entire series of photographs taken that day can be seen here. This photograph was the last of the series to be identified, being confirmed just last week using the 1914 Sanborn Insurance map and a healthy amount of study. In fact, there is an early historical marker in this photo. Can anyone spot it?

The Wake County Historical Society will host Goodnight Raleigh’s publisher and history editor, Raleigh Boy, this weekend for a photo presentation on Raleigh’s lost architectural treasures. The event will take place at the Mordecai Historic Park Visitors Center, corner Cedar St. and Wake Forest Rd., Sunday, April 23, at 2.00 pm. A nominal $5.00 admission fee will go to support Wake County Historical Society and its programs.

Whether you are a Raleigh native, longtime resident, or newcomer, and have an interest in our city’s architecture and history, you don’t want to miss this event. Raleigh Boy (aka Karl Larson) wrote his master’s thesis on Raleigh’s history, works in the photography collections unit at the state archives, and has spent more than 45 years photographing and studying the Capital City’s rich past. Please join us Sunday afternoon for what is sure to be an eye-opening presentation on Raleigh’s lost architectural heritage.

Here is just a sampling of the lost landmarks we will explore. How many do you recognize?

State Archives of North Carolina photo

Carter Braxton Harrison villa. Built 1860. Demolished 1962.

State Archives of North Carolina photo

Academy of Music Opera House. Built 1892. Demolished 1959.

State Archives of North Carolina photo

Octavius Coke Mansion. Built ca 1875. Demolished ca 1950. 

State Archives of North Carolina photo

Baptist Female University. Built 1895-97. Demolished 1967.

State Archives of North Carolina photo

Raleigh City Hall and Auditorium. Built 1910. Demolished 1960.

State Archives of North Carolina photo

Duncan Cameron Mansion. Built 1835. Demolished 1938.

State Archives of North Carolina photo

Nazareth Catholic Orphanage. Built 1907. Demolished ca 1978.

State Archives of North Carolina photo

Thomas Kenan Residence. Built ca 1890. Demolished 1950.

State Archives of North Carolina photo

Tucker Building. Built 1899. Demolished 1966.

State Archives of North Carolina photo

Dorothea Dix Hospital. Designed by Alexander Jackson Davis, built 1850.

State Archives of North Carolina photo

Demolition of the central pavilion, 1951.

Lost Raleigh, a photo presentation of Raleigh’s lost architectural treasures
April 23, 2017
2.00 pm
Mordecai Historic Park
Corner Wake Forest Rd. and Cedar St., Raleigh, NC

Sponsored by the Wake County Historical Society

The Wake County Historical Society (WCHS) invites you to an open house at St. Paul AME Church on Sunday, February 19, at 2:00 PM. This historic downtown church is in the process of restoring its 75 stunning European art glass windows. WCHS is adopting a window and hopes to encourage other organizations and individuals to do the same.

WCHS has adopted the panel seen on the right — Globe, Lamp, Bible and Carpenter’s Square, symbolizing the Word of God building souls and enlightening the world.

St. Paul AME Church was founded in 1848 by the African-American membership of Edenton Street United Methodist Church. The cornerstone of the present church was laid in 1884 and work was completed in 1909; however, that same year the building was gutted by fire, and subsequently rebuilt and rededicated in 1910. It is one of only three Raleigh churches on the National Register of Historic Places, and is a Raleigh Historic Landmark. St. Paul is the oldest independent African-American church in Wake County.

St. Paul AME Church as it appeared ca. 1915, shortly after its restoration following the fire of 1909. (State Archives of NC photo)

St. Paul AME is looking for support to repair and conserve the beautiful and historic art glass windows. They are more than 100 years old, and were originally imported from Europe. Time and weather have taken their toll and threaten these windows if action is not taken. The estimated cost to repair the windows and protect them from future damage is about $145,000. The church is praying for your help in this project.

A damaged dedication panel to Abram Young in one of the windows.

Church leaders including the Reverend Gregory L. Edmond, Pastor, and members of the Wake County Historical Society Board will lead a discussion of this important program to restore the historic windows of St. Paul AME Church. Tours of the windows will be led by members of the Wake County Historical Society. The church’s beautiful sanctuary and it’s stained glass windows are not to be missed!

The stained glass windows of St. Paul AME Church are resplendent with Christian symbology.

WCHS will announce that it is adopting a window and encourages you to be generous, too.

St. Paul AME Church is located at 402 W. Edenton Street, between Harrington and West Streets, with plenty of on-street parking and parking spaces behind the church available. Please enter through the main entrance on Edenton Street.

Come, and bring a friend!

All donations, large or small, are tax-deductible, and will be graciously accepted, with checks made out to St. Paul AME Church.

The radiant chalice reminds us of the significance of Holy Communion in Christian worship.

You can read more about the St. Paul AME window restoration project in the News and Observer.

Window photographs by Frederick Walton Photography.

8″x10″ black glass ambrotype c. 2014 by Ian F.G. Dunn

Courtesy State Library of North Carolina.

Heck’s wife, Mattie Callendine, played her part too. In fact, she is likely the reason the mansion was ever built in the first place. Col. Heck had his sights on Ridgeway, a planned community along the railroad in Warren County. Heck and his associates aimed to create a thriving metropolis, inviting northerners and foreign immigrants, hoping to cash in on the development of new town. However, the wind never caught Ridgeway’s sails. Although some did settle there, it hardly reached the potential that Heck and his partners envisioned.

The lot Mattie Heck purchased ran the length of the block along Blount Street. An attractive location at the end of a main residential street, just far away (and just close enough) to town.

Portion of Sanborn Fire Insurance map showing the Heck’s one acre lot.

A little more than two months later, a contract was drafted to build the house.

An excerpt from the contract between builders Wilson & Waddell and Heck reads:

[A] three story house with tower slate and french roof, and tin top size forty four (44) feet front by forty (40) feet deep for main building with three story french roof. Back building 20—26 feet. All the materials to be of the very best and to be put up in the very best manner according to the plans and specifications of the superintendent architect G. S. H.  Appleget.

From the Jonathan McGee Heck papers, State Archives of North Carolina; Raleigh, NC. PhC.201 Box 2

The contract reads like 19th century stereo instructions, but basically, the builders weren’t going to foot the bill for her fancy foreign glass. Below is the receipt for said glass, imported from France to Baltimore, Maryland–one of America’s largest ports at the time.

Receipt for window glass totaling $97.70.

Heck’s optimism and confidence in the post Civil War new age is clearly displayed in the elegant, yet bombastically, styled house. It sits with conviction, possessing an air of readiness–as if it could break free of its moorings and sail away at will.

Photograph by Karl Larson

In 1869, Blount Street terminated at North Street, and just as you’d expect to see in a planned city, Raleigh’s boundaries were North, South, East and West Streets. Col. Heck built his house on the edge of town. Big things were afoot for Raleigh at that time. Heck’s house was an important rudder for development along North Blount Street, as well as the former Mordecai Grove, which would later become Oakwood.

In the years following the mansion’s completion, as the last quarter of the 19th century faded, Heck played a major role in the burgeoning residential development in the northeast quadrant of Raleigh.

Section of 1872 Bird’s Eye Map published by C. N. Drie.

The Heck-Andrews house is a wonderful example of Second Empire style. The four-story tower, extensive ornamental woodwork, concave mansard roof and repetitive detail are all executed with a fine sense of proportion and aesthetic. This style of architecture became popular around the mid-1860s during the Second French Empire as it was being extensively used in Europe for commercial, municipal and residential buildings.

A steep mansard roof with dormer windows and tower are the style’s most identifiable characteristics. To an American, especially a southern American, this distinctly European style was likely seen as stylish and modern in contrast to more traditional styles of the day that either gave a nod to the past or emphasized function over ornamentation and pretense.

Heck Family Era

The Heck family, Jonathan, Mattie C. and their children, Loula, Fannie, Minnie, George, and 3-month- old Mattie Anne moved into the giant house in 1872 all eyes on the future.

Page from family photo album courtesy of Charles Heck, great grandson of Col. Jonathan Heck.

Heck family members with servants — Mattie Heck sits in window. Taken on the south lawn c. 1890. The fountain in this photograph is currently at Peace College. Photograph courtesy of Charles Heck, great grandson of Col. Jonathan Heck.

The next 30 years bore business venture successes and failures, nine children, birthdays, marriages, and deaths. By 1910 only Heck’s widow, Mattie, the family matriarch, and two of her children, Fannie and Pearl (with the help of two servants) resided in the house. A generation began and ended under one mansard roof.

Portion of tintype taken c. 2013 by Ian F.G. Dunn

In 1916 Mattie Anne Heck Boushall and her husband Joseph moved into the mansion. Subsequently, matriarch Mattie Callendine Heck moved out of the house where she’d raised her family. After which the mansion was sold to Alexander Boyd Andrews Jr., son of railroad baron Alexander Boyd Andrews. For the first time in half a century, there were no Hecks on the corner of Blount and North.

A. B. Andrews, Jr. Era

Shortly after taking ownership of the house in 1921, A. B. Andrews, Jr. performed an extensive renovation which included updated plumbing and electrical systems, interior aesthetics and general repairs. Sadly, Andrews’ wife Helen, age 43, died of a stroke before she could enjoy the house her husband had lovingly purchased for her. Andrews occupied the house for just shy of 30 years, taking full advantage of the home’s ability to impress. He frequently entertained, but never married again.

Julia Russell/Gladys Perry Era

In 1948 the house was purchased from the Andrews heirs by Mrs. Julia Russell. Mrs. Russell likely got the creaky old mansion for a song. Her daughter, Gladys, a stenographer for the DMV, moved in with her mother.

When Mrs. Russell bought the house it had been nearly three decades since it had seen any updates. The interior likely appeared only slightly better than it does today and Mrs. Russell didn’t change a thing. This detail is especially interesting. It is rare to find a house that hasn’t been updated since the 1920s, and because Mrs. Russell didn’t alter the house structurally or aesthetically, the interior is a time capsule of residential design. There are gas light fixtures still installed, and a long-abandoned load of coal in the basement. Nothing has been modernized, sanded down or painted over. The house is dirty, dusty, and rotten in parts, but it is all there.

The forlorn mansion as it appeared in the 1970s. Courtesy State Archives of North Carolina.

After Mrs. Russell’s death sometime in the 1970s, Gladys had the place to herself. In the later years of her life she was known to wander the streets of Raleigh, rifling through trash barrels and dumpsters for items that happened to catch her eye. It is said she preferred to cover her face in thick, white “pancake” makeup in an effort to appear as a ghost — thinking people would most certainly steer clear. Her bright red lipstick, black dress and overcoat completed the guise.

You can read more about Julia Russell and Gladys Perry in Reminiscences of a Raleigh Boy, Part 7: The Ghost of Blount Street

Gas light fixture found on third floor. Being that electricity wasn’t introduced in Raleigh until 1885 and residential use didn’t appear until about 1890, the house spent close to two decades without electricity — using gas lights such as this one for illumination.

Unused load of coal, likely dating from the 1960s,

So, what exactly is inside?

Nothing, really.

The house is, however, one of the most intriguing and beautiful empty houses your narrator has ever seen.

The house is three stories, with a four-story tower and full basement. As you walk in the front entrance you are greeted by a large staircase. Immediately to the right is the reception room, and to the left, the library. The reception room opened onto the family parlor, and the library led into the dining room, the kitchen was located in the rear wing. Originally, each of the first-floor rooms (four in total) featured large bay windows opposite a stately fireplace.

Detail of ground floor fireplace surround.

In 1921 during A. B. Andrews extensive renovation, the two front rooms lost their fireplaces–chimney and all. These two rooms and the central hallway were opened up to create a space spanning the width of the house.

House seen from south lawn c. 1895. Photograph courtesy Charles Heck, great grandson of Col. Johnathan Heck.

Above, the two chimneys that were removed can be seen closest to front of house.

What follows is a pictorial tour through the Heck-Andrews House.

Ground Floor

All photographs by Ian F.G. Dunn unless otherwise noted.

Left front reception room note the large radiator. Innovations in residential heating soared in the 1920s. Central heating was a large part of A. B. Andrews’ 1921 renovation. These large radiators are found on all three floors and supplied by a large furnace in the basement.

View from the central hallway looking toward the front door. The Neoclassical interior details like the Corinthian columns seen here, were also part of Andrews’ 1921 renovation.

View of columns looking across central hallway into the library.

An elegant gas chandelier hung beneath the plaster medallion seen here in the dining room.

Ground floor looking toward front door. The basement entrance can be seen on extreme right, stylistically obscured by the woodwork along the side of the staircase.

Pictured above is the family parlor. The door seen on right leads outside to a porch on the right side of the house.

Side entrance. This portion of the house was heavily damaged by leaking rainwater. Stabilization efforts in 1999 have stopped any further deterioration.

Grand hall staircase leading to second floor.

Second Floor

Second floor central hallway.

As you approach the second floor, a large central hallway opens, displaying an array of doorways and windows. A glance into the floor-to-ceiling mirror seen on the right resets your sense of scale. — A friendly reminder from a long-dead interior designer: “You are a small being in a very large house — thank you for your attention.”

The two images seen above depict one of the four second-floor bedrooms. Sinks are found in all the bedrooms in the house, and while that may seem odd at first, it actually makes sense. Before advances in indoor plumbing most people were accustomed to having a washstand in their bedroom for the occasional face wash or garment rinse.

Typically, in the 19th century, well water was carried inside and decanted into large pitchers that would sit on the washstands next to a basin. Plumbed sinks found in bedrooms can be seen as a natural evolution from the days of wooden washstands. In the early days of indoor plumbing, having a sink in your bedroom with all the water you needed on demand was considered a quite a comfort.

The master bedroom on the second floor is depicted above. It is the only bedroom in the house that leads directly into a bathroom. It is very likely that this is the room in which the final resident of the house, Gladys Perry, spent her final years–in isolation, surrounded by her treasured detritus.

Second floor bathroom.

Detail of a 1920s cast iron toilet basin on second floor. Part of A.B. Andrews 1921 renovation. If there ever was a beautiful toilet, this is it.

Third Floor

After a walk up some decidedly rickety stairs that lead to the third floor, the mansard roof makes an appearance. The interior walls in the rear wing are pitched with the windows set out to sit vertically–a construction detail that your narrator found very intriguing.

Above, a curved hallway on the third floor, rear wing. A small bathroom is located just through the doorway. Around the bend is another large central hallway with floor-to-ceiling shelving.

At the end of the third floor central hallway are french doors with a large glassy surround. Just beyond is the spiral staircase that leads to the tower–and ultimately, the widow’s walk.

Third floor bedroom. The walls in this room have a wonderful texture only time and neglect could create. Upon closer inspection the pattern from wallpaper, likely hung more than century ago, has left its mark on the bare plaster.

Seen above is one of the four third-floor washstands. The sinks on the third floor have a single cold water spigot flowing into a porcelain basin with a hand carved marble counter and back-splash. They are really quite beautiful–and very early examples of indoor plumbing. They are, in effect, automatically filling wooden washstands.

Little is known about how the original plumbing was configured, but it is certain that the house started life with some arrangement of water pipes, however primitive. A mention of a sink, bathtub and “pipes to carry water and the lead-ing of water tank” is seen in the written plans for the house. Indoor plumbing was exceedingly rare in 1869 and it is probable that the house started out with one central sink connected to a cistern or tank, likely located on the third floor. The Heck family servants would then tote buckets of water filled from this central sink to various locations around the house.

If one sink sounds paltry for such a large house, keep in mind that the Heck-Andrews House was built nearly two decades before Raleigh had a municipal water system. It is feasible that the sinks such as the one pictured below, were not installed until after the house was connected to Raleigh’s municipal water system–sometime around the early 1890s.

View looking toward back of house from front, third floor bedroom. Sinks in both bedrooms can be seen.

Two bedroom doors meet.

Above, the spiral staircase leading to the tower. At the center of the frame is the nearly vertical stairway leading to the hatch for the widow’s walk.

Raleigh’s 19th century answer to an observatory, the tower windows offer a wide-reaching view of the surrounding neighborhood. The City of Raleigh as seen from the tower in the late 1800s would have looked considerably less crowded than today.

Looking down on Blount Street from tower. The Hawkins-Hartness House (c. 1882) in full view.

The two remaining chimneys. View looking toward rear of house from roof access hatch in tower.

Rear of tower as seen from roof. Access hatch can be seen open at bottom. The widow’s walk is the small area at the very top of the tower surrounded by a low balustrade. It has been told that the wives of seamen would watch for the return of their spouses ships from this vantage point on coastal houses. All too often, the sailors were claimed by the sea, leading to the term “widow’s walk.”

Present and Future

The State of North Carolina put the house on the market in late 2015, less than a year after the exterior of the house was completely repainted. As of January 2016, the 144-year-old gal sits patiently waiting for a new owner.

If it’s true what they say about things that matter being on the inside, then much like Gladys Perry, the mansion is but a ghost of its former self. With fresh red lipstick and pancake makeup the old place excites feelings of suspicion and intrigue.

Houses such as the Heck-Andrews House were built during a time when the distance between a craftsman’s hands and the final product was little more than the length of a hand-tool. Every roof slate, every linear foot of baseboard, floorboard, molding, every piece of plate glass, every strip of wood lath and every decorative detail had a person’s hands behind it. The mansion is just as much a residence as it is a piece of 19th century sculpture.

For a mere $950,000 this house could be yours. What the real estate listing doesn’t mention is the enormous amount of historical knowledge, money and love required to bring this structure back to life.

…Mainly love.

“What makes a house grand
ain’t the roof or the doors
if there’s love in a house
it’s a palace for sure
without love
it ain’t nothin but a house
a house where nobody lives.
Without love it ain’t nothin but a house,
a house where nobody lives.” -Tom Waits

Get a unique glimpse into North Carolina’s past through a special highlights screening of films from Raleigh’s own Century Film Studios (1950s-1980s). Century’s owner, local cinematographer O.B. Garris (formerly of WNAO and WRAL) was a prolific cameraman, photographer, and filmmaker. See below for a partial list of Century Film Studio’s work that will be screened at this event.

The media landscape from the 1950s – 1980s is thought to be very different from today’s. This special event will address some of these differences and highlight the ways in which, much like today, media was often produced at the local level.  These local producers, however, are too often forgotten.

Century Film Studios featured works include:

• Campaign coverage of Governors Bob Scott, Dan K. Moore, James E. Holshouser, Jr., and Jim Hunt
• Sponsored films for NC law enforcement agencies, the Boy Scouts, and the North Carolina State Fair
• Commercials for the Record Bar, Mt. Olive Pickles, and Duke’s Children’s Classic golf tournament
• And a host of materials (even NC State football) that illustrate the “image” of the state and its enterprises that this local company was hired to create

The films will be discussed by Dr. Devin Orgeron, associate professor of Film Studies at NC State, Melissa Dollman, media archivist (who processed and is presenting research on the collection), Kim Andersen of the State Archives, and NC State alumnus Skip Elsheimer of A/V Geeks.

This program is a collaboration between the NCSU Libraries, NC State’s Department of English, the State Archives of North Carolina, and A/V Geeks.

The event will be held at the James B. Hunt Jr. Library Auditorium, NC State University Centennial Campus. It is free and open to the public.

WHAT: Local History through the Camera Lens

WHEN: Oct. 13 / 7:00pm-9:00pm

WHERE: James B. Hunt Jr. Library on the NC State University campus, 1070 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC 27608

MORE INFO: https://www.facebook.com/events/643812085754446/ and https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/event/north-carolina%E2%80%99s-past-through-films-century-film-studios

TRAILER: https://vimeo.com/133205518

State Archives of North Carolina photo

This Monday, August 31, 2015, marks the 100th anniversary of this now-famous photo of Raleigh Times newsboys. The top story of the day was the appointment of Robert L. Gray, a Raleigh native who had started his career with The News & Observer, as the new editor of The Times.

The newsboys photograph was taken on the Hargett Street sidewalk in front of the Raleigh Times Building by long-time Raleigh photographer Albert Barden, whose entire collection of more than 20,000 negatives is housed in the State Archives of North Carolina.

To celebrate this historic centennial, Greg Hatem, owner of the Raleigh Times Bar and Restaurant, has arranged for the State Archives to exhibit the original 8″x10″ glass plate negative at the very spot where it was created 100 years ago. The glass plate will be on display for public viewing Monday, August 31, from 11am until 6pm. Archivists will be onsite all day to answer your questions about the State Archives, historic photographs, and other Archives collections.

The restaurant menu for the day will feature old-fashioned lunch specials along with the regular favorites. At 3 pm, Rebecca Hyman, of the State Library, will read a story time tale about newsboys of the era that children of all ages will enjoy. ‘Times Boys’ bobbleheads, publications from the Office of Historic Publications, commemorative T-shirts, and other novelties will be given away. There will also be a raffle and a photo booth. Then, at 5 pm, the Raleigh Times will tap a special keg to wrap up the celebration.

Proceeds from the day benefit the Friends of the Archives, so come down to the Raleigh Times on Monday, August 31, and be a part of history!

WHEN: Monday, August 31, 2015, 11am-6pm

WHERE: Raleigh Times, 14 East Hargett Street, Raleigh, NC.

CONTACT: Raleigh Times at 919.833.0999 or info@raleightimesbar.com | http://www.raleightimesbar.com/events/paperboys-turn-100

For more information, you may contact the State Archives, 919.807.7310, or email archives@ncdcr.gov.

N_53_15_343 Raleigh Times News Carriers August 31, 1915 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/north-carolina-state-archives/3525864429/)

This week Flashback Friday soars high above Raleigh’s beloved State Capitol. The sophisticated 19th century Greek Revival building has stood on this spot for 175 years. We’ll also take a peek at the history of this building and its predecessors. So climb aboard and enjoy the flight!

No message this week!

The State Capitol, started in 1833 and finished in 1840, replaces the first state house which burned in 1831. Originally this building housed all of N.C.’s state government. As the state grew, new buildings were built around Capitol Square; the State Dept. building, etc. The new legislative Building is located one block north of the capitol. One may view statues of three presidents North Carolina gave to the nation from the East Grounds.

This 1925 view of Capitol Square is similar to that seen in this week’s photochrome postcard. Many of the buildings seen here are long gone, but some still stand today. How many do you recognize?

State Archives of North Carolina photo

This 1925 aerial photo shows the arrangement of Capitol Square as it appeared in the early 20th century. The current landscaping dates to 1928.

How Our Legislative Landmark Came to Be

Raleigh was a planned 18th century urban environment, much like Savannah, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia. In Raleigh’s grid plan, four radial avenues extended from a central public space — Capitol Square, or more formally, Union Square. The first capitol building, or state house, was erected on the six-acre square in 1795. The Federal style, two-story brick building featured modest porticoes and a tall cupola.

State Archives of North Carolina photo

This ca. 1800 water color painting depicts North Carolina’s first State House, as seen from Fayetteville Street.

In 1818 the General Assembly engaged William Nichols as State Architect. His primary task was to refurbish and enlarge the old State House. Nichols raised the building to three stories, added classical porticoes to the east and west facades, created a central rotunda, and topped it all off with a copper dome. Work began in 1820 and was completed in 1822. The result was a graceful, neoclassical Capitol building.

State Archives of North Carolina photo

This 1830s lithograph depicts Nichols’ masterful transformation of the 1795 State House into a stately 19th century neoclassical Capitol.

Sadly, Nichols’ masterpiece was destroyed by fire in 1831, and, ironically, the cause? — negligence. Workmen replacing the wood shingle roof with ‘fireproof’ zinc plates left a soldering pot unattended, the roof caught fire, and the building burned to the ground.

In the aftermath, debate ensued in the General Assembly to move the seat of government elsewhere. The Raleigh faction prevailed, and the decision was made to keep Raleigh as the state’s capital. The firm of Ithiel Town and Alexander Jackson Davis of New York was retained to design a new capitol building. Scotsman David Paton was the supervising architect.

State Archives of North Carolina photo

This ca. 1840 lithograph depicts North Carolina’s State Capitol as it appeared soon after its completion.

The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1833, and in the spring of 1840 the building was completed. The new Capitol was of textbook Greek Revival design, favored as a representation of public buildings of the era. It was cruciform in plan, featured a central rotunda, and was crowned by a copper dome. Capitol Square with its canopy of ancient oaks enhanced the building’s appearance of permanence, formality and importance.

State Archives of North Carolina photo

This rare ambrotype of the Capitol shows the building and grounds ca. 1861.

State Archives of North Carolina photo

This view of the Capitol’s western facade dates to the 1880s. 

Our Capitol Building, a North Carolina architectural gem, and treasured Raleigh landmark, has undergone many renovations and restorations over the decades, but the noble structure itself looks virtually the same as it did in 1840; and still reigns supreme over Capitol Square, in the heart of downtown Raleigh.

Our North Carolina State Capitol has been designated a Raleigh Historic Landmark, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Our Flashback Friday photochrome postcard this week was published by Aerial Photography Services of Charlotte. It was printed by Dexter Press, Inc. of West Nyack, NY.

Thomas Dexter Press   1934-1980
West Nyack, NY

Printer of a wide variety of postcards subjects as linens and photochromes. Thomas A. Dexter was the inventor of gang printing. The Company merged with MWM Color Press in 1980 to become MWM Dexter, and they moved to Aurora, MO.

While all the photochromes printed by Dexter bore the words Genuine Natural Color they went through a variety of phases. Their early photochromes went under the name Dextone and tended to be flat and somewhat dull in appearance. As years went by their optical blending techniques improved producing richer and more varied colors.

 

“Flashback Friday” is a weekly feature of Goodnight, Raleigh! in which we showcase vintage postcards depicting our historic capital city. We hope you enjoy this week end treat!