WILMINGTON — In the early 20th century, Wilmington was a blossoming city, with a booming textile industry and busy port. As the city grew and became more prosperous, so did its residents, who built lavish colonial style mansions, perfect for entertaining important guests and their esteemed neighbors.
This week’s “Where We Live” takes you inside one of these classic colonial mansions, where the various owners have entertained guests for nearly 100 years. Nestled in the wooded Forest Hills neighborhood, this home offers plenty of space for raising a family, and, throwing lavish garden parties.
The home, located at 206 Forest Hills Drive, features a flowing open design with almost 4,000-sq. ft. of living space. There are multiple ways to access the large back patio from the kitchen and the den, and a well landscaped yard that almost begs for a barbecue.
Jane Marr, REALTOR with Intracoastal Realty, says the home has been owned by several prominent Wilmingtonians, including Doctor Barefoot, and City Councilman Neil Anderson.
The home features a large kitchen in the rear wing of the home, with a “breakfast area,” seated next to one of the homes two fireplaces. The kitchen features new granite counter tops with tile back splash, gas appliances, and a new refrigerator, great for preparing large meals in a comfortable environment.
The rear wing also offers an attached two-car garage, something that, according to Marr, is very rare for the area.
Marr says that although the homes amenities have been updated, it still contains much of the same interior design as it did when it was constructed, back in 1921.
“All of this is traditional 1920s colonial style,” Marr said. “Tall ceilings, pretty moldings, and large living spaces. These are even the original hardwood floors.”
“The pine-paneled den and family room opens up to the patio,” Marr said. “It really makes for a great room to entertain guests.”
Looking at the wood-lined den, one might easily imagine men with long mustaches and large cigars, wreathed in smoke, sipping on an after-dinner drink and talking business.
The home
The home sits on .69 acres of land, and features a “secret trail” that leads to a private clearing in the woods. It’s also on one of the highest points in New Hanover allowing for a rare feature not often seen in our area, a 600-sq. ft. basement.
Originally constructed to support a coal shoot, a “well” used to empty coal from heating the house before HVAC existed, the space has been used over the years as storage. The basement features access to the back yard via a secret set of stairs, allowing the owner to easily stow gardening and landscaping equipment used for upkeep on the property.
The second story of the home features all four of the homes bedrooms, and both full baths. The upstairs mirrors the open design seen on the first floor, with two of the rooms being attached by a “sleeping porch.”
“So, the sleeping porch was originally open to the outside, but was closed off some time back,” Marr said. “The last family that lived here used it as a play room, because it was right in between their two kid’s rooms.”
There’s also a sort of, “secret,” to the upstairs area. A final staircase leads you to an 800-sq. ft. unfinished attic, with vaulted ceilings and tons of room to build on. This space has been used as a playroom for children in the past, but could easily be built on to accommodate anyone’s dream room. The windows offer sweeping views of the wooded neighborhood, as well as an excellent view of the yard.
The home is zoned for Forest Hills Elementary, Williston Middle School and New Hanover High School. It offers easy access to the cross city trail, and is less than five minutes from downtown Wilmington. The house is currently listed at $579,000, and has been on the market for 255 days.
Where We Live is a weekly feature looking at the homes and unique places to stay in the Cape Fear Region. Do you have a home, on or off the market, that our readers may be interested in seeing? Let us know at PCD@localvoicemedia.com.
For more information about this week’s home or to view the property, contact Jane Marr REALTOR with Intracoastal Realty at (910)231-3343, or email her at JMarr@IntracoastalRealty.com. Marr will host an open house at the home Sunday, June 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. For more details, visit jmarr.intracoastalrealty.com
Get in touch with Reporter Cory Mannion: follow him on Facebook, Twitter, or send an email at cory@localvoicemedia.com.