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Historic Raleigh mansion now a boutique hotel that owners believe will boost other downtown venues

For years, the iron fence and gates surrounding Montfort Hall turned people away from the vacant and water damaged home at 308 Boylan Avenue. People in the community often passed by and wondered what would become of the historic landmark.

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By
Rick Armstrong
, WRAL photojournalist
RALEIGH, N.C. — For years, the iron fence and gates surrounding Montfort Hall turned people away from the vacant and water-damaged home at 308 Boylan Avenue. People in the community often passed by and wondered what would become of the historic landmark.

The 10,000-square-foot home was commissioned in 1858 by William Montfort Boylan with the help of British architect William Percival. Among its various incarnations, it served the community as Boylan Heights Baptist Church.

About 10 years ago, Sarah Shepherd and her husband, Jeff Shepherd, moved into a nearby home in the neighborhood. She walked past the landmark every day as she headed to her job nearby in downtown Raleigh.

Now the couple owns the Italianate-style mansion. They renamed it Heights House Hotel.

"You know, there really isn’t anything like this in Raleigh," she said.

Sarah Shepherd worked with expert builders and a designer to repair and restore the home as a boutique hotel and event space.

"For people like Jeff and I who really like to travel and stay at places like this, we felt like we need something in Raleigh that we would want to stay at," she said.

Highlights include an impressive front entrance with towering columns. "I love walking in there everyday and looking up at the stained glass," said Shepherd, referring to the colorful feature inspired by a similar sight in in the North Carolina Capitol building.

The hotel offers nine large guest rooms that combined sleep up to 20 people.

The Shepherds are now booking overnight guests, including those interested in the honeymoon suite. The Shepherds expect that other downtown area venues will benefit as well.

"We are so close to so many things that we hope this is a great focal point and then they get to explore what downtown Raleigh has to offer," she said.

In addition to hosting hotel guests and weddings, the Shepherds have future plans to invite visitors for morning breakfasts or evening cocktails. They also look forward to hosting neighborhood and community events.

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