Oct 28 Edwards-Franklin House

 

As it is today, thanks to the Surry County Historical Society and their 1973 restoration work.

As it was in 1973 after being vacant since 1969.

In 1799 Gideon Edwards built this house on a knoll near the Fisher River in the Low Gap area of Surry County. The property was referred to as "Skull Camp" at that time. Gideon farmed the 1300 acre tract. When he died in 1820 the house became the property of Meshack Franklin and his wife Milly (Gideon's daughter). Meshack's bother Jesse, the 8th governor of North Carolina, lived nearby. 

In 1847 the house was bought by Sinclare McMickle. During the McMickle/Blevin family ownership, the property was downsized by a series of land sales. The last Blevin to live in the house left in 1969. Vacant for a few years, the house was acquired by the Surry County Historical Society in 1972. An ambitious renovation ensued.  It was added to the National Register of Historic Places at that time as well. 

In 1820 when Meshack Franklin acquired the house, he wanted to update it in the Federalist style. Staircases, panels, mantles and doors were painted in popular decorative styles of that time. Note, the door has been painted in a decorative way.  

Why are there 2 front doors? One seems to be centered, so I wonder if the other was a later add on. And what could it have been for? It's interesting to note that McMickle operated a post office in the house. It was called Edwardsville. Maybe the door was added so one door could be the family entrance and the other for the public conducting business with the postal enterprise. 

Close up of door

During the renovation, the porch banisters were pegged to the support columns.  

Double shouldered chimneys grace both sides of the house. Both chimneys have "1799" etched into them. 

Cellar door with wood lockbox and wood pull above. 

Flemish bond

The house is open a few days during the year. Today was not one of those days, so we just walked around to admire it. A couple of Chinese chestnut trees have dropped their load of burrs on the lawn. 

There is no sign of the kitchen. It would have been a separate building. There were rocks in the middle of the field across the street which could have been associated with the home. We did not see the cemetery but one is somewhere on the property.