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Saving history: Exploring a WWI veteran's vacant 103-year-old house before renovation

Do you ever wonder how beautiful historic homes, with over a century's worth of stories and important context to a city's history, get destroyed?

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By
Heather Leah
, WRAL multiplatform producer
SANFORD, N.C. — Do you ever wonder how beautiful historic homes, with over a century's worth of stories and important context to a city's history, get destroyed?

You can't turn a corner in Sanford without running into the Makepeace name. There's the Makepeace house, the Makepeace Apartments, the Makepeace Mill.

So then how could a house with the name 'Makepeace' ever be at risk for becoming lost history?

Owls Nest Properties is working to renovate the historic Makepeace House in the Rosemount-McIver historic neighborhood in Sanford.

WWI veteran, renowned business man, Sanford Mason

The Elizabeth Makepeace House in Sanford was built in 1918 by Henry Makepeace, a prominent member of the community.

"Henry was a veteran who served in WWI. He was a mason and past master of the Sanford Masonic Lodge," said Cori McKee-Whipple, the owner of Owls Nest Properties, a company that renovates at-risk historic buildings.

The Makepeace family also owned Sanford Sash and Blind, a company which played a major role in Sanford's growth, starting with its founding in the late 1800s.

Owls Nest Properties is working to renovate the historic Makepeace House in the Rosemount-McIver historic neighborhood in Sanford.

The home is nestled in the Rosemount-McIver district, a well-known historic neighborhood where many of the men and women who helped build Sanford all lived as neighbors.

Just two doors down, the Austin McCormick house is also being renovated, after it was nearly ruined. More than a century old, it had been purchased by house-flippers who promised to renovate it, but then left it in a half-destroyed state.

McCormick, the Makepace family's neighbor, was also a member of the Masonic Temple.

"I can imagine Makepeace and McCormick walking to the Masonic Temple together, just down the road," said McKee-Whipple.
However, the homes' historic status does not necessarily guarantee the homes are protected.
Owls Nest Properties is working to renovate the historic Makepeace House in the Rosemount-McIver historic neighborhood in Sanford.

Saving historic homes from destruction

The Makepeace house wasn't abandoned, but it was at risk for being destroyed nevertheless, according to Mckee-Whipple.

"There were a number of risk factors," she said, "The upstairs ceiling is starting to buckle, where significant water damage is impacting it."

Another room had ivy growing on the inside walls – vines had pushed through an antique window sill to enter the home. Left unchecked, the room could have eventually filled with growing vines.

Ivy could be seen growing inside the house, pushing through the antique window sills.

"Another room had a wasp's nest just sitting inside. It was a child's room," said McKee-Whipple.

Another threat was a 200-year-old oak tree that had begun to die and rot near the top, causing its huge, sprawling branches to endanger the homes below.

Like many cities, Sanford is no stranger to losing valuable historic properties. In the historic Rosemount-McIver neighborhood, one home was neglected so long it was eventually bulldozed.
Even the grand former Masonic Temple, right on a main stretch of downtown, was left in a near-abandoned state.

Mckee-Whipple hopes to save the architectural history of Sanford and return life to these important buildings that carry so many of the city's stories.

Owls Nest Properties is working to renovate the historic Makepeace House in the Rosemount-McIver historic neighborhood in Sanford.
Through Owls Nest Properties, she has already purchased and begun renovating all three structures: The McCormick house, the Makepeace House and the Masonic Temple.

As she renovates the antique structures, she often finds many surprises hidden inside the walls.

Owls Nest Properties is working to restore the Elizabeth Makepeace House, built in 1918.

History hidden within antique walls

McKee-Whipple does far more than simply renovate the homes and put them back on the market – she works to uncover the history of the property, while striving to preserve original architecture from the homes and buildings.

People who enjoy home makeover shows might enjoy Owls Nest Properties' unique social media presence, where they often share photos of their historic projects – or even live stream about surprise 'discoveries' they uncover while working in old structures. At the Masonic Temple, for example, they uncovered hidden windows behind the walls.
A muralist lived in the Makepeace House at one point. Unique mural can be found in multiple rooms throughout the home.

"At the Makepeace house, we discovered this beautiful stained glass window," said McKee-Whipple. "It was hidden behind a big mirror."

She believes the stained glass window is likely original to the home, as small, ornate stained glass decor was popular in early 1900s architecture.

Owls Nest Properties discovered a beautiful stained-glass window in the Elizabeth Makepeace House, hidden behind a mirror for years. It's likely an original piece of the historic home.
Owls Nest Properties is still working on renovating the historic Makepeace House and the Masonic Temple, but the Austin McCormick House is now for sale.
They plan to continue sharing renovation updates, photos and live streams on their social media pages – showing the community how to save and reuse historic structures.
Owls Nest Properties is working to renovate the historic Makepeace House in the Rosemount-McIver historic neighborhood in Sanford.

"That's the most important part of this story," said McKee-Whipple. "It's that these buildings have stood for 100 years, and now they will stand for 100 more."

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