:: 2008 Homes - This year's homes announced soon

56 Cumberland Avenue
Bob Tally

The Louisa J. Thompson House, originally built in 1906, is just one of many well-preserved and protected structures in the Montford Historic District. The home is named for its longest term resident, a widow who lived in the house from 1913 through 1945. The home had been broken up into apartments, but has been renovated back into a single family dwelling. The foundation was failing, so it was decided to lift the house and build-out a full finished basement, adding approximately 1,000 square feet. The basement space has become a master suite with adjoining bath, a media room and a "beverage" room with built-in wine storage and wet bar.

90 Cumberland Avenue
Pam & Tom Siekman

Henry Redwood was a native of Baltimore who came to Asheville in 1881 to establish a mercantile firm. Three of the sons of Redwood, and his wife Susan Taylor Redwood, grew to become prominent businessmen in Asheville through the first half of this century. Redwood is believed to have built the house in 1910 and lived there until his death in 1923. His descendants lived in the home until the 1930's. Redwood's house on Cumberland is a rambling frame structure largely of Queen Anne / Victorian derivation, with a complex array of projecting gables and a spacious wraparound porch.

227 Cumberland Avenue
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

"Holy Trinity" was founded in 1922 by a small group of Greek immigrants. Early members of the church met in various houses and in rooms provided by First Baptist Church & Trinity Episcopal Church when a traveling Orthodox Priest was available. The Cumberland Avenue groundbreaking ceremonies were on September 22, 1957, and in 1958 the Church was completed. In June 1959, Holy Trinity welcomed their first full time priest, Father Nicolaos Spirakis. The stunning renovation of the Sancutary was completed earlier this year. Holy Trinity continues to be a wonderful presence in Montford.

46 & 48 Cumberland Avenue
Abbington Green Inn

A Richard Sharp Smith treasure, this home was built in 1907 by David Latourette Johnson and his family. Today it is elegantly furnished with English and American antiques dating from 1730 to 1910. The Inn also includes an impressive addition to the original property, Griffin Cottage, a new carriage house to the rear of the main Inn.

32 Soco Street
Mary Trauner

This two-story stucco house was built in 1903-1904 on a street that was just coming to life. One of several houses on Soco designed by Richard Sharp Smith, this home helped the architect give the street an English cottage look with arts and crafts accents. Like many other residences throughout Montford, the house has spent much of its life as a rental property, but the current owner is completing a loving renovation back into a single family home. This home sparkles like it did a century ago.

11 Soco Street
Laura & Travis Lowe

Conservation unifies every aspect of the Arts & Crafts style cottage at 11 Soco Street. Proportioned and located on the lot to minimize damage of two 100+ year old white oak trees, the house is constructed on a pier "foundation" to preserve the trees' root systems. The trees shade the house in the summer and let the sun shine in the winter, conserving energy the old fashioned way. The Energy Star Certified home features radiant floor heating, ductless A/C and numerous other energy saving systems and appliances. Custom woodwork and copious built-in storage spaces, hideaway compartments and even a murphy bed optimize every bit of available space while allowing for an light and airy feel on a small footprint. Renewable, recycled and sustainable materials were used in construction, and waste was carefully managed, resulting in only 6 pickup truck loads of dump material. The newly completed stone retaining wall even utilizes reclaimed stone from a lot on Montford Avenue.

45 Rosewood Avenue
Katie & Brad Rice

Completed in February 2008, by Bellwether Design-Build, this home speaks for itself with modern design, creative finishes and high energy efficiency. Like many of the historic homes in Montford, this house was built to last with superior quality craftmanship and materials. Special features include an exterior copper wall, interior copper hood and counter, and cork floors and reclaimed pine hardwood from Sayles Bleachery. Extending out on the front side of the home is an office where the homeowners, Brad and Katie Rice operate their design and construction business.

204 Pearson Drive
Karen Kellow & Frank Cummings

The Hawthorne House is named after the twin sisters, Fannie V. and Anna B. Hawthorne (Fannie and Annie), who were principle investors in the Asheville Loan and Land Development Company and developed the area of Rosewood Avenue and Hawthorne Lane sought of Pearson Drive. The sisters also built and at one time lived in the houses on either side of 204 Pearson Drive. The Hawthorne House, built in 1914, is a two-story asymmetrical vernacular Arts and Crafts dwelling with prairie school influences. The exterior is detailed with deep eaves, a low pitched roof, exposed rafter tails, shingle walls flared over a brick foundation, horizontal banding of moldings and windows, and a side entrance porch. The interior's relaxed Arts and Crafts elements were replaced with a few more formal elements of the Colonial Revival style in the 1920s, like the living room fireplace and mantle, heart pine to oak flooring and additional crown molding. The house was fully restored in 2006. The accessory building to the rear was historically used as an employees' quarters, but today the second-story is used as an office for one of the owners.

216 Pearson Drive
Joseph Magill & Ken Gordon

This Colonial Revival, known as the Wolfarth/Rodger's house, was built in 1904 for the family of Dr. Justin Wolfarth, a physician from Germany. It then became home to Rev.G.Floyd Rogers, Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church downtown Asheville. Current owners have restored the home to its turn of the century charm. This house is truly one of Montford's gems.

254 Pearson Drive
Monique & Chad Rundell

This one-of-a kind gem in the heart of Historic Montford was built in 2007, it was carefully planned to fit into the neighborhood and preserve the 100+ yr. old Oak trees. This home has exquisite features both inside and out, natural stone from a local quarry, maple hardwood throughout, granite, marble and copper finishes. One of the most unexpected features in this urban setting is its long private driveway and natural surroundings.