A couple of weeks ago, standing in the brilliant sunshine, crisp March wind twirling through still leafless trees, Carolina blue sky almost painful to the eyes, memories of this amazing house stirred in my mind. I could imagine Mattie Heck's carriage pulling up to the massive front doors and her looking up at the tower of her beautiful new home. It was 1869, the Civil War was over. Her husband, Colonel Jonathan McGee Heck - later a wealthy industrialist - had the house designed in the Second Empire style and built as his gift to his wife. She was tired of living in the countryside and wanted to come to Raleigh - a growing city full of excitement during its rebuilding following the war. This was Mattie's house.
The imposing structure, its history full of interesting facts, is at long last poised for a huge interior renovation since being sold on one more time (by the state of North Carolina who only restored the exterior over the past several decades) to the N.C. Association of Realtors. Restoring the interior after years of neglect will take millions of dollars, but how wonderful it will be to see in the months ahead. Historic beauty is often quick to be razed to the ground and forgotten, this part of Raleigh's glorious past will be renewed.
Thank you new owners. . . . . . . . . .wishing you well with this huge undertaking.
Thank you new owners. . . . . . . . . .wishing you well with this huge undertaking.
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