Historic house has major repairs

Major repairs amounting to tens of thousands of dollars have been completed at the Edwards-Franklin House, just in time for a pair of events this weekend to highlight the local landmark.

The Surry County Historical Society will host an open house there on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. both days, as part of a regular monthly series held at this time of year.

Admission is free and the public is invited to tour the house, located at 4132 Haystack Road west of Mount Airy.

Built in 1799, the Edwards-Franklin House is one of the oldest homes in the region. It was built by Gideon Edwards and later occupied by his son-in-law, Meshack Franklin, brother of a North Carolina governor, Jesse Franklin.

Improvements unfold

The Edwards-Franklin House is considered the finest example of its architectural type in the Piedmont, which has been enhanced by a series of recent projects.

This included the installation of a new roof at a cost of more than $60,000 alone.

“The house looks great since we replaced the roof on the house and the kitchen last fall and completed painting the house and kitchen in June,” according to Dr. Annette Ayers, the president of the Surry County Historical Society.

That group bought the Edwards-Franklin House in 1972, which subsequently was restored to its grandeur featuring many unique architectural components.

“The last time we had the roof changed was 2003,” Ayers said Wednesday.

“And the roof we put on is supposed to last 50 years.”

It is made of a type of cedar typically used in roofs of structures in such cold climates as Colorado and Blowing Rock closer to home, with its appearance in Surry County an oddity.

Grants were obtained by the non-profit historical group to fund the work, with Ayers mentioning that preparing applications for that assistance has taken up much of her time in recent years.

Historic features protected

The recent structural upgrades presented special challenges due to a 225-year-old house being involved, Ayers agreed.

“We were very careful in hiring the roofing company and specialized carpenters,” the historical group’s president explained.

The carpenters had to be well-versed in working with an older building, adhering to strict standards in a way that has preserved its structural integrity.

Unlike a remodeling project at a regular house, crews can’t just go in ripping out things in a haphazard manner, Ayers added.