Aug 17, 2020 - Real Estate

Historic Fourth Ward Victorian cottage built in the early 1800s asks $695K

Brianna Crane

The historic Sloan-Davidson House, one of the five oldest houses in Mecklenburg County, is on the market for $695,000.

Brief history: Charlotte has around 110 designated historic homes, and the earliest deed to the historic Sloan-Davidson House dates back to 1801. It was part of a 48-acre property bought by Robert Sloan, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission records. The land was divided into four squares, and R.F Davidson bought 21.5 acres for $300. That’s all part of today’s Fourth Ward neighborhood.

Over the years, the home’s condition declined, and it was was sold to Berryhill Preservation, Inc., an organization dedicated to restoring the Fourth Ward, in 1976. Christopher and Pam Geiger bought the house a year later for $13,000, and took care of major renovations.

Many Fourth Ward homes were moved from their original site, but the historic Sloan-Davidson House sits on its original property.

The address of the Rossier Realty listing is 314 West 8th Street. At 1,480 square feet, the house has two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Architecture: The style of the home is Victorian, marked by the signature asymmetrical pitched roofline and wrap-around porch. Details like the shingled exterior and ornate gables and trim along the facade, point to a Queen Anne style of Victorian architecture, popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

During one of the home’s renovations, contractors found Roman numerals and “Sears” stamped into the walls, meaning part of the house was likely an early prefabricated Sears home. (Yes, Sears used to sell homes you could put together).

Renovations: The home has had some major upgrades over the last 200-some years. The original foot print of the house was likely a two-room cottage — what are now the kitchen and dining room. Bedrooms and the living area were added in the late 1800s.

Most recently, the owners turned a half bath and closet into a full bathroom in the secondary bedroom. They also upgraded the kitchen, a room original to the house, with all new cabinetry, appliances, flooring, backsplash, and quartz counters.