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Appendix 10 Wake Forest Local Landmarks
Battle-Purnell House, circa 1802 The Battle-Purnell House at 1037 North Main Street was designated as a local his- toric landmark property in 2002. Built from 1802 to 1803 on roughly 300 acres owned by Josiah Battle, a prominent farmer, the Battle-Purnell House is one of the oldest in the Wake Forest area. By 1854 the house was owned by John Purnell, also a farmer. The property was rented out in the late 1800s to various oc- cupants. In 1895 John Purnell died and
left the house to his second wife and children. In the early 1900s the Jackson family purchased the property. The Jacksons were also farmers. During the Jackson ownership the accompanying acreage was reduced to 144 acres. In 1991 Julie Ellis and Daniel Safriet purchased the house and nine acres from the P.Y. Jackson estate. According to The Historic Architecture of Wake County, North Carolina by Kelly Lally (1994) “the Battle-Purnell House is perhaps the largest and best-preserved late Georgian-style dwelling in rural Wake County. In its form, plan, and finish, it appears to be related to several other ca. 1800 regional houses in Franklin and Granville counties.” “Set on a high stone basement, the house is clad in plain weatherboards and displays raised-six-panel doors, nine-over-nine sash win- dows, and window and door surrounds with three-part moldings.” The three double-shouldered Flemish bond chimneys are handsomely finished with paved shoulders and glazed headers.” The house, says Lally, “retains an extraordinarily intact Georgian interior, including robust pan- eled mantels, paneled wainscoting, six-panel doors, and original flooring and wall sheathing. The main block follows a traditional but uncommonly large hall-parlor plan – a plan shared with the other houses in the regional group – with an enclosed stair rising in the corner of the hall. The hall itself is the most elaborate room, with a dentil crown molding and an ornate mantel featuring crossetted molding and a cushion frieze.” Ms. Ellis and Mr. Safriet restored the house to its current state of preservation. In addition to Local Historic Landmark Designation, Preservation North Carolina holds a Historic Preservation Easement on the property.
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