Historically, Southern roads are dotted with old houses in disrepair, homes with broken hearts that have suffered the ravages of time. There is a mysterious nostalgia for these old dwellings down country lanes, at least there was to Scott Burns and Kenny Foreman.

Burns first drove past the house on Old Stage Road while studying for his pilot's license at the Harnett County airport many years ago. Time passed. And during each trip down that road he watched the old house getting weaker and weaker.

It was clear that the farmhouse had him under her spell.

One day as he was driving down Old Stage, just as he was accustomed to each time he passed, he glanced over at the house. This time was different ... there was a "For Sale" sign in the yard.

Within a couple of months, early 2005, Burns and Foreman were the new owners of a tattered homestead which was built in 1886 and known as the Turner and Amelia Smith House.

The windows had been covered over with plywood and the glass was mainly nonexistent. A tree had fallen causing a portion of the old tin roof to cave in, insects had taken over, and plaster was falling off the interior walls.

"The house was a mammoth mess," said Burns. "It had been vacant for at least 20 years and was used for storage, such as lumber."

Restoration

Burns quit his job as a real estate agent and started working full time on restoring the exterior of the house to its original beauty. For the next year, piece by piece, he sanded and painted each board.

"There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears," he said. "I love restoration but I wouldn't do it again."

The original house was built as a ranch, and then a second floor was added a little later. The structure features a center hall plan with a prominent rear shed which makes the first floor two rooms deep.

Burns, who knows every inch of the home, said during the renovation he discovered that at some point the house was raised with the original downstairs being relocated upstairs. He isn't sure why, when or even exactly how that happened.

The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and therefore, all materials were used to maintain the historic integrity of the home.

Everything in the house has either been restored or is original to the time period, right down to the glass in the windows, which mainly came from a twin house that was built in the same year.

"The house is a sum of rescued old house parts and glass," said Burns.

The old part of the house is still supported by stone piers 123 years later. The prominent front porch stretches almost the entire width of the house and sports a railing Burns made from recycled wood from the old kitchen.

The cornices of the roof and the porch are embellished with large brackets. Other notable characteristics include circular gable vents, molded corner boards, four-over-four windows, and a front entrance surrounded by narrow sidelights and a transom.

The house's decoration displays overall modest Italianate features.

Addition

Burns and Foreman didn't stop with restoring the old farmhouse. They designed and contracted a massive addition to the original home that incorporates the conveniences of modern living while retaining old world charm. The house now includes six bedrooms, six bathrooms, a home theater, and a six car garage.

Glorious views of the courtyard, the swimming pool and the newly planted orchard that contains numerous fruit trees such as apple, pear, cherry, apricot, nectarine, peach, pomegranate, fig and several blackberry and blueberry bushes, can be seen throughout the windows.

The 11 ancient pecan trees on the property are a legacy from the first owner's father.

Adding to the effect of an old plantation, Burns and Foreman had a barn that was built in the 1800s moved onto the property from Johnston County.

The final bill for the renovations came at the tune of one million dollars.

As Burns reflects on their work over the past four years, he said he has learned a deep respect for the men who built the home so long ago.

But, the one thing that warms his heart and is foremost in his mind are his current neighbors.

"I love my neighbors!," he said.

A bit of history

Old houses come with many peculiarities but none seem to stir as much interest as the spirits of former owners who hang around to do a little haunting. And legend has it this old house has some invisible visitors.

"I've not seen any evidence of haunting," said Burns.

Then again, he doesn't believe in things that go bump in the night.

Every home has a story to tell. Details of the tenants of the house are sketchy but according to Chapel Hill resident Robert Williams who is a direct descendent of the Myatt family, the house was built specifically for Amelia Myatt Smith.

"William Alfred and Amelia H. Myatt had seven children of whom two were Mary Pherabe, my great-grandmother, and Amelia," he said. "These two sisters married brothers, Henderson Frank Smith, my great-grandfather, and Turner Smith.

"The father (of Amelia and Mary), William Alfred, gave each of the daughters a house, this one (Turner Smith House) and the one across the creek on John Adams Road. They were built by the same individual and were identical. Their father lived about a half mile west just off Panther Lake Road."

According to the Myatt family history, both Amelia and Turner died in 1890. However, research from Wake County Register of Deeds indicates that Amelia Smith transferred the deed to the house to Ophelia Hamilton in 1916 at a cost of $7,500.

So, it seems safe to assume that Amelia, Turner and their children lived in the old homestead for about 20 years. No one seems to know what eventually happened to the family.

Hamilton sold the house to H.L. Wilkerson in 1917 for the sum of $13,000. The property stayed in the Wilkerson family until it was sold to William Lipscomb in 1952.

It's unclear who lived in the house from that date until it was purchased by Burns and Foreman.

Future plans

Burns said they have been tossing around the idea of making the elegant Turner and Amelia Smith House available as a venue for weddings and other specialty events. This crown jewel is also the perfect dream setting for photographers.

Anyone desiring additional information can call Scott Burns at 919-622-3813.