Colonial Revival House at 314 Isabel Street

Entry # 118 in the 1976 publication, An Inventory of HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE of Greensboro, N.C., is this house at 314 Isabel Street. In the publication, the property is referred to as the Stanley House with the accompanying text, "Curious Colonial Revival style house with a full 2-story Corinthian portico dwarfing the 1 1/2 story frame structure. Within the center bay of the portico is a stuccoed round arch reminiscent of the architecture of Sir John Soane, famous 19th century British architect."

More recently, in the News and Record, Jim Schlosser published an informative article about the Isabel St. property. As Schlosser recounts, a 2004 fire gutted the 18-room house and owner Paula White returned her home, she has owned since 1979,  to its original splendor-- and then some. White hired Diana Young to research the home's provenance. The family who built the house is not entirely determined; it is attributed to either the Brooks or Carmichael family. Apparently, the correct spelling of the street is not conclusive either as the plaque on the house reads "Isabell" and the Fisher Park street sign reads "Isabel."  Regardless, it is a fine example of historic preservation in Greensboro and the determination of an individual citizen! Kudos to Ms. Young! If the property ever appears again on a tour of historic homes, we will be first in line to admire its beauty!

Comments

[David]

Awesome details on that house. Beautiful.

[Carver]

That's a great shot of the house. It is beautiful but I agree that the corinthian portico tends to dwarf the house. In a way though that makes it all the more interesting. Great that the owner restored it so well after the fire.

[Greensboro Daily Photo]

There must be some reason for the portico, the columns, the facade of the Isabel St. home.

Perhaps it is possible to walk out on the top balcony and the original owner wanted to be able to walk out and see her husband's factory. Perhaps the columns were brought from a plantation belonging to relatives. Somebody was very purposeful in designing this house and, likely, we will never know why. What about our own lives, possessions, and living quarters would be of interest to future generations? Will the answers to the interesting questions about our lives, our photo archives, evaporate when deleted from Facebook?

[igby]

Obviously designed by someone who has little architectural training. This is what happens when you hire a contractor to do an architect's job. Bad proportions, total disregard for the historical styles it tries to emulate. I just hope the roof doesn't leak, because keeping the rain out is about all the house is good for. Next time hire an architect, pleasssssssseeeeeeeee...