1926 House for the Misses Strong

It is fortunate when architectural plans are preserved and passed on to succeeding owners. Not only are final drawings extant for this shingled 1926 residence, but earlier ones too showing changes that took place during the design process. A synthesis of Arts & Crafts and Colonial Revival motifs, these drawings’ dates demonstrate a late shift toward detailing in the latter mode, while retaining essentials of the Craftsman style. Most curiously, however, distinctive Craftsman triple step-back eave brackets not specified in any of the drawings—mimicking two much-earlier cottages nearby on Melrose Circle—were added during construction.

For young architect Aiken R. Carlisle of Spartanburg, S.C., the challenge was typical of the North Carolina mountains—how to design for a site that slopes steeply away from the access road. Carlisle’s approach was progressive for that era, a solution still in favor today. The public level, including kitchen and living room, is the middle floor accessed a half-flight below the road. Bedrooms are on floors below as well as above. Commodious porches at the back of each floor offer views over the valley, and the structure nestles into the hillside instead of perching aside it.

Hardscape designed by Harriet and Alan Peoples to complement softscape, the horticultural elements of this heavily-wooded hillside.

The commissioning clients were two daughters of famous philosopher Josiah Strong, sisters Elsie and Margery, who grew up in the rich intellectual and artistic milieu of Greenwich, Connecticut. After his death in 1916 they and their mother moved to a new home in Duluth, Minnesota, a big four-square Colonial with Palladian detailing. This unpretentious North Carolina house was built across Melrose Circle from the property of their deceased uncle who settled in Tryon in the 1880s. William E. Strong, civil engineer and the town’s first resident architect, designed in the earlier Shingle Style.

Hall closets have been redesigned for lighted display of the Peoples collections. Here are seen vintage North Carolina ceramics and a glimpse of the Maxfield Parrish prints.

Original boiler for steam heat system is still working. The present owners have spent twenty five years conserving and restoring the home, which had been divided into apartments.

French doors from living room lead to the middle of three rear porches, stacked vertically as “outside rooms” on the three levels of the house.