haunted house

Owner Says This Is a Haunted House ~ c.1888 North Carolina Home For Sale By Owner – Off Market

OHU50K Notes   $99,900 ~ Increased to $200,000 Back on the Market $200,000 Off Market

UPDATE: OHU50K featured this house back in July 2020 on an Under $199K Sunday when it was listed at $99,900, then taken off market. We received an email update from the owner that the home is back on the market for $200,000. I know it is over our price constraints now, but thought you might be interested in a haunted house for sale. Same pics as July with some additional.

This amazing brick beauty, known as Villa Fortuna, is said to be a haunted house. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Needs work. The current owner does live there, and she is selling it as a for sale by owner. It was foreclosed upon in 2010, then the current resident purchased it in 2011 for $25,000.

 

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Owner’s Original Comments

Ready to live a more sustainable life? Villa Fortuna was built in 1887. She is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for the architecture. This home is the perfect blend of unpretentious elegance and a rustic urban farm.

Reidsville

Reidsville is a charming town. This part of North Carolina is as close to CT as I have ever seen. Here we have a lot less snow, shorter winter and yet we still have lilacs in the spring! Most everything in town is within 2 to 5 miles of the driveway. Greensboro and Danville are 30 minutes in either direction. Sitting in the back yard you have no idea you live in town. There is an innate serenity to the property and the house. And yes we do enjoy the occasional visit from some of the former residents… moving about the house and property…. old leather shoes moving across the tile floor at 2 a.m. or the smell of a freshly lit cigar in the bathroom which was once the back porch off the dining room.

 Greenhouse

The 30’x32, steel frame greenhouse has a block base. There is a 8’x12′ barn used for my goats. It is Amish made with a metal roof and 2 lofts. The woodshed is 3′ deep x 13′ long. There is an addition not included in the square footage. It includes a sun room, a pantry, and mud room off the driveway.

Condition

Selling the house as a fixer-upper. The facing came off the back of the second story and squirrels got in and damaged the wiring in the ceiling of the purple bed room. All 22 windows need to be replaced. Some sooner than others. Only one of the five fireplaces has been plumbed for gas logs. They are coal burning style ~ they’re in the three bedrooms, the library and the living room. The front porch and balcony need to come off and be replaced. They are not original. Even with what needs to be done it is still a beautiful historic home. Looking for a new steward who will love her.
Update: I had it off the market because I took a nasty fall and needed time to recover. I’m better and am eager to buy the new place I’ve found. FYI, Comparing this house to what is around it, is like comparing apples to tacos. Most of those houses are on 1/8 of an acre and do not have a barn and a 32 foot by 30 foot by 12 high greenhouse. There are only about 6 of this style antique Italianate brick homes left in NC. This house is for someone with vision, passion and some skills would be handy.

More

I have posted across the country where the cost of living and taxes are much higher than NC. Rent to own and owner financing are not an option. I live here. The photos are from before I moved in. The red, purple, yellow and library room are 16′ x 15′ the ceilings are 9 1/2 feet. Downstairs bedroom is 11′ x 12′. The sun room, pantry and mud room are not included in the square footage. I heated them by a wood stove. The air part of the unit needs to be repaired (old hippie don’t use it). The heat part was replaced 3 years ago. Also the water heater, washer, dryer and gas log fireplace unit, toilet have been replaced or added since I’ve been here. YES there is a urinal on the wall in the purple bedroom. The last owner put it there.

What The Seller Loves About This Home

When you are in the back yard it feels like you’re out in the country. I’ve spent years creating very productive garden beds. When the tomatoes are heavy on the vine and the squash, pumpkins and potatoes are pushing the boundaries of their beds it’s a slice of heaven. Or when there is a 9′ fresh evergreen glistening in the library bay windows, in the glow from the fireplace… that too is a slice of heaven.

 

*3 bedrooms
*1 bath
*1,548 sq ft
*0.5 acre
*Build date 1888
*Source

 

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608 Vance St, Reidsville, NC 27320    $99,900 ~ Increased to $200,000 Back on the Market $200,000*

Google Map

For Sale By Owner:336-394-5513

New Comments

Location

Due to the world wide health emergency, you must be pre-qualified for your loan before viewing the house. Once you have proof of financing or funds you may set a time for a viewing. You must wear a mask the whole time you’re here. Ready to live a more sustainable life? Villa Fortuna was built in 1887. She is listed on the national registry of historic places for the architecture. This home is the perfect blend of unpretentious elegance and a rustic urban farm. Reidsville is a charming town. This part of North Carolina is as close to my home state Connecticut, as I have ever seen. Here we have a lot less snow, shorter winter and yet we still have lilacs in the spring! Most everything in town is within 2 to 5 miles of the driveway. Greensboro and Danville are 30 minutes in either direction. Sitting in the back yard you have no idea you live in town. There is an innate serenity to the property and the house.

Hauntings

And yes we do enjoy the occasional visit from some of the former residents… moving about the house and property…. old leather shoes moving across the tile floor at 2 a.m. or the smell of a freshly lit cigar in the bathroom which was once the back porch off the dining room.

Outbuildings

The 30’x32, steel frame greenhouse has a block base. There is a 8’x12′ barn used for my goats. It is Amish made with a metal roof and 2 lofts. The woodshed is 3′ deep x 13′ long.

House

There is an addition not included in the square footage. It includes a sun room, a pantry, and mud room off the driveway. One of the five fireplaces has working gas logs. They are coal burning style, they’re located in the three bedrooms, the library and the living room.It is a beautiful historic home. Looking for a new steward who will love her as I have. For sale as is where is. The red, purple, yellow and library room are 16′ x 15′ the ceilings are 9 1/2 feet. Downstairs bedroom is 11′ x 12′. The sun room, pantry and mud room are not included in the square footage I heated them by a wood stove. The air part of the unit needs to be repaired (old hippie don’t use it). The heat part was replaced 3 years ago. The water heater, gas log fireplace unit in the library and toilet have been replaced since I’ve been here. YES there is a urinal on the wall in the purple bedroom. The last owner put it there it is no longer hooked up. There is the option of purchasing the second 20’x10′ storage barn with two 8’x10′ lofts. It could be moved to the back of the property near the orchard and transformed into a tiny off grid guesthouse. There are only about 6 of this style antique Italianate brick homes left in NC. This house is for someone with vision, passion and some skills would be handy. I live here so please do not let me find you wandering around my yard. Many of the photos are from before I moved in. If you have proof of financing or proof of funds I can send you additional photos. Yes there are some repairs needed but she is still a grand old lady.e

What The Seller Loves About This Home

When you are in the back yard it feels like you’re out in the country. I’ve spent years creating very productive garden beds. When the tomatoes are heavy on the vine and the squash, pumpkins and potatoes are pushing the boundaries of their beds it’s a slice of heaven. Or when there is a 9′ fresh evergreen glistening in the library bay windows, in the glow from the fireplace… that too is a slice of heaven.
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Family History

The first owner was William G. Jennings, a brick manufacturer. He most likely built the c.1888 home to show off his business, which was in town. Jennings lived in the home for 12 years until he sold both the house and his brickyard in 1900.

The house eventually was sold to Avery Baker in 1905, a jeweler, who soon after sold it to his father George Baker, a mercantile salesman. George passed it down to his daughters Mary and Maude, who lived there until 1959. Mary was a successful photographer in Reidsville.

 

1915

 

 

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Architectural History

According to the NRHP, “The Jennings-Baker House is a much more vernacular and personal expression of Victorian tastes, as it combines elements of several styles. The triangular patterned brickwork above windows and doors on the facade have a vaguely Gothic flavor, while the segmental arch openings on the side and rear elevations and in the ell … are typical of masonry construction of the period. The facade’s projecting bays and porch suggest the influence of architecture predominantly found at military institutions, while the corbel table on the facade and the parapeted side elevations of the main block are reminiscent of commercial architecture in the late nineteenth century.”

NRHP continues, “For the most part, the interior of the Jennings-Baker House is much more simply finished than the exterior. Common throughout the house are plaster walls, pine flooring, simple baseboards, four-panel doors with rim locks and china knobs and relatively plain though molded post and lintel mantels, all standard Victorian finish details.”

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5 Comments

  • [email protected]

    Two reasons. 1.Although the name of the site is oldhousesunder50k.com, we also post evergreen house-related articles. Readers have given me feedback that they especially enjoy our Haunted House series, of which, this house is one. 2. Every Sunday, we feature homes under $100k. This was one, and I always give updates on price reductions, sold prices and even price increases. Like the title of the post says, this happens to be an Update of a price increase.

  • Jinx

    would love a haunted house for company. I’m alone, i can move anywhere. I’m not afraid of haunted houses. naturally evil spirits
    i prefere friendly. I’m retired going on 70yrs. my hobby is painting,
    it’s my passion. not sure if i can swing $200k. is it carved in stone?
    maybe it’s my Maya heritage , spiritual, ancient,….
    thank you!

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