Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary has purchased the Paschal house, the large white house on a hill on the north side of Durham Road and next-door neighbor to the seminary president’s gray stone house.
This week Ryan Hutchinson, the seminary’s vice president for operations, said the seminary will soon apply to the town for permission to renovate and update the house for use as a residence. It may be on next year’s Christmas Tour of Historic Homes.
It was built by Dr. George Washington Paschal in 1908, and Hutchinson said at the time it was unclear whether gas or electricity would be the method by which people lit and warmed their homes and businesses. So Dr. Paschal installed the means to use either.
When you tear out the ceilings, he said, you find the original electric wires wound around white spools and a pipe for the gas next to each other, ready to light the overhead fixture or chandelier.
Ed Morris, the director of the Wake Forest Historical Museum, said it was natural gas and the town or college had a gas facility. “I have no idea how they got the gas to Wake Forest unless it was brought by train. The entire (Wake Forest College) campus was lighted by gas in the 1880s. The photo in the Society exhibit (at the museum) and the Literary Notables exhibit show elaborate gas chandeliers. Raleigh got natural gas in 1872. CP&L (Carolina Power & Light) started as a gas distribution company, then took on electric street cars and electricity distribution in the 1890s.”
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Last week the Wake Forest Town Board informally agreed to waive the town fees for a new Operation Coming Home house for an injured veteran, but it has been difficult to find out where or when the house will be built. It will apparently be constructed by a partnership between the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake with Lennar Homes, suggesting it will be built in the Austin Creek subdivision. Operation Coming Home is a nonprofit which builds homes for disabled combat veterans who fought in the Middle East. The soldier who will live in this house with his family will also be the speaker for the Wake Forest Purple Heart Dinner in August. There will be more details next week; everyone is out of the office.
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Heather Holding sent out a message that needs to be shared.
“I invite you to visit an event, SWIM FOR LIFE, jointly sponsored by the Town of Wake Forest, the Boys & Girls Club, and the YMCA. It’s completely FREE to anyone in the community!
“The majority of the participants are children who attend the Boys & Girls Club. However, I participated last night as a volunteer teaching adults basic swim skills. My experience was something that I will likely never forget. I worked with two women who at the beginning of the evening were terrified of the water. By the end of the 90 minutes, one of them was swimming! She wasn’t using any fancy strokes or moving quickly through the water, but she had gained tons of confidence. The goal is to teach her to save herself if ever necessary. I can’t wait to see her progress tonight!
Please stop by to see for yourself the impact that this program is having on the Wake Forest community. We will be at Holding Park pool through Thursday, 6:00-7:30.
Also, if you are interested in volunteering, please let me know. We can always use more volunteers!
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Speaking of volunteering, the Fourth of July is produced by an independent committee of volunteers – and more are always needed to man the gates at the stadium, to help pass out balloons and make order of child and bike chaos at the children’s parade and to help with the games and the art at Holding Park after the parade. Email wfjuly4th@aol.com if you can lend a hand. It is a great way for newcomers to meet an enthusiastic and diverse group of people.
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There is a sign on Forestville Road near Rogers Road on the tract recently approved for the Shoppes at Heritage Village saying a Publix grocery store will be built in 2016.
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In the mail this week was an offer by Fifth Third Bank for a preapproved credit card, but Senior Planner Charlie Yokley said the bank has not yet submitted plans for the two buildings it has announced it will build.
Fifth Third Bank purchased a lot at 100 Capcom Avenue in April 2011 for $830,000 and later that same year, in September, purchased a lot at 12612 Capital Boulevard in Wake Forest Crossing shopping center for $904,000. The purchase amounts are from the tax stamps paid as listed in Wake County’s website.
