One day only: Step inside Raleigh's secret garden, nearly a century old

It looks like a normal road with a normal sidewalk – but hidden behind a curtain of ivy is a secluded, privately-owned oasis that has survived since the 1930s. With twisting cobblestone walkways, ancient gnarled trees and bursting colorful flowers, the enclave is rarely seen by the public.

The enclave includes a historic main house, carriage house, herb shed and guest house. The main house, also seldom seen by the public, was built in the 1800s as one of the first houses in the freedmen's village of Oberlin.

The garden has been lovingly tended and passed down for generations, winning awards over and over again for decades, with each succeeding generation working to preserve the history. In the late 1930s, a tour of Raleigh's best gardens included multiple elaborate homes and landscapes. Today, all of them are gone – torn down and developed – except for this one.

Isabelle Bowen Henderson was the garden's original artist. Many remember her as a powerhouse of a woman who, during an era when many women relied on the help of a husband's income, supported her household financially and independently.

"Her husband was working towards a PhD. in philosophy from Harvard, and during the Great Depression he had trouble finding work," says Russ Stephenson, the current resident and caretaker of the historic home and garden. His grandmother was Henderson's sister.

After the tragic loss of their only child and the struggles of the Great Depression, ultimately the couple split up, leaving Henderson to support herself. Her incredible talent as a portrait artist was recognized in newspapers and magazines, and her gifted green thumb grew a garden that has survived until this very day.

The family also worked to preserve the home's Black history and connection with Oberlin Village, which was one of the first settlements built by men and women freed from slavery in Raleigh.

"We have preserved the original section of the house, which was one of one of the very first dwellings in Oberlin," says Stephenson.

The home was built in the 1800s, so by the 1930s when Henderson moved in, it was already an older home. It would not have been surprising for the new property owners to tear down the house and built something new, but Stephenson says Henderson and his great-grandfather were passionate about preserving history.

"I'm grateful my great-grandfather decided to honor the past," he says.

Stephenson and Preservation NC believe the house was built an entire generation before the historic Willis Graves house, which sits in the middle of Oberlin Village today. The two homes even share similar architectural features – such as a turret 'tower' and a central, colorful window – showing the Graves house may have been inspired by this one.

This would make sense since before Henderson moved in, the home belonged to the Hinton family, who married into the Graves family, and the Haywood family

"It's possible the Graves family carried that inspiration with them from their former home," says Stephenson.

When a house survives long enough, it starts to collect stories.

"This house has several stories," says Stephenson. "The story of Oberlin Village. The story of my great aunt and her garden."

And the story of his grandmother, who as a single, senior citizen battled developers to prevent a five-lane road from plowing through her family home – and possibly taking the rest of Historic Oberlin with it.

His grandmother inherited the house and garden from her sister Henderson.

"The city really, really wanted to build a large road cutting right through," says Stephenson. "They saw my grandmother and probably thought, 'Oh, a little old lady who lives alone. It'll be easy to push her around.'"

They were wrong. For five years she fought, even hiring a high-powered attorney to protect her family home and the historic property.

How does a garden and historic home hiding right on the edge of downtown Raleigh survive from the 1800s through the 2000s? Generations of families with a passion for preservation have ensured its protection. Today, Stephenson acts as caretaker for his family home. With a background in architecture and a passion for history, he spends his days restoring antique structures and keeping the gardens thriving.

For one day only, Stephenson is opening the historic garden and home for public viewing as part of a fundraiser for Preservation NC, a non-profit that fights to protect our state's history – just as his family has for generations. Proceeds also benefit Friends of Oberlin Village, a non-profit that focuses on preserving the history of Oberlin.

Did you know North Carolina is full of other secrets and wonders? Our latest Hidden History podcast explores a miniature stone village built roughly 50 years ago by a tobacco farmer in his final years of life. Want to visit it for yourself? Listen to our latest podcast!