Robert Everett Family Restores Boddie-Bunn Plantation in Nash County, 1944

“Our Home Must Be in the Country” from the October 1944 issue of The Southern Planter

The Robert Everetts of Nash County, North Carolina had, like many other families, an intense longing for a home of their own. They haven’t waited to build when the War is over. Here, in the first of a series on home improvements and building in the South, is how an old Southern home dating back to Colonial days is satisfying their longing.

Three years ago, when plans for a home of their own were in the making, North Carolina countryborn Robert Everett firmly expressed his view. “I wouldn’t live in any man’s town. I want a home in the country!” And Tennessee-born Mrs. Everett agreed.

Unable to build during wartime, they visioned possibilities in the Boddie-Bunn Plantation in Nash County, near Nashville, on which stood a 12-room house dating back to Colonial days. Dignified, stately, the house was well worn with generations of living and, during recent years, much neglect. Sturdily built as Colonial houses were, restoration would be a good investment. Its lines of beauty, appropriate to the surrounding rolling hills covered with choice North Carolina trees and shrubs, could easily be kept.

During the first months of ownership, Mrs. Everett stated with all her energy and enthusiasm the long-time improvements in the house. She also did a large part of overseeing the early developments in building up the land, while Mr. Everett divided his time between his own new 600-acre farm and management of the family acres in nearby Martin County. In two years of terracing, building new fences, and enriching the soil, they have produced good crops and expect even better ones to come.

The house is the story. It is approached from the highway by a winding driveway already lined with native evergreens and dogwood in the background. It seems to have grown up with its setting—on a hill surrounded by mimosa, magnolia, crepe myrtle, dogwood, holly and pecan trees as tall as the house itself. Mrs. Everett has planted colorful, blooming shrubs around the house, and will add more along the drive.

Underpinning for the porches and paint on the exterior walls were first essentials. Most remarkable of the restoration of this property, however, is that done inside the house with Mrs. Everett’s own hands and the little help she could obtain from farm labor and carpenters of the community. While the plans are her own, she had her handiwork checked regularly by Mrs. Effie Vines Gordon, Nash County home demonstration agent, and Miss Pauline Gordon, North Carolina Extension house furnishing specialist.

Wide floor boards now gleam with their new shellac and wax finish. Soft pastel paints, brightened walls, woodwork and mouldings in some of the rooms, wallpaper in appropriate designs for walls of others.

Each of the tall windows, that extend almost form the tall ceilings to within two feet of the floor, frame changing views of the countryside that surpass any painters. Mrs. Everett made the curtains, draperies and cornice boards to accent this feature of country living, and there are no low shades to mar the view. Outside window blinds are partly drawn in summer for coolness.

Kitchen Once an Old Store Room

To our mind, her choicest ventures are the efficient kitchen, once a storage room, and just off the kitchen, the dining nook which was once part of a long side porch. Convenient cupboard space and working counters built around her electric range, refrigerator and sink are of available knotty pine paneling. Windows, with glass shelves for growing plants and bright glassware line the exterior wall of the dining nook. Cupboard spaces in long window seat beneath are storage for her many jars of canned foods. Framing the windows are draperies of an old English legend print in gay colors. The interior wall still has the original window which looked out on the porch and afford additional enjoyment of the nook window arrangement from the room within. Walls surrounding these inside windows and that next to the kitchen are also pine-paneled.

Many of Mrs. Everett’s comfortable furnishings are pieces made by excellent North Carolina cabinet makers who make reproductions with skill and exquisite workmanship. Her pictures, collected ovr a period of years, grace the large wall areas.

Mr. Everett pays his wife a compliment that would please any farm homemaker. “She has been the happy combination of gardener, carpenter and queen!” She is a gracious hostess, an excellent cook. From the garden, she sets a true farm dinner table of good food, both fresh and canned. She has found time for some work in her new community, and is now chairman of the Nash county Nutrition Committee.

They’re Planning for the Future

During these two years, they have had to busy themselves with farmer as well as remodeling. There are still many plans for the day when time is right for substantial building for the future. A central heating unit will replace the present system of a large downstairs heater and a fireplace in every room. Among other things on the list are rugs to grace and fit the large floor areas, more furnishings and electric equipment. The original part of the house to the back, said to be 198 years old, is still untouched.

Both the Everetts like lots of company. As soon as possible, the back section will be remodeled for more room, when they may enjoy the kind of living where friends come to spend the night, where Southern hospitality can be restored in its rightful measure.