Death of a Victorian: Fabius Briggs House to be Razed
After countless stays of execution and pleas from Preservation North Carolina to save the Fabius Briggs House located at 1301 Hillsborough Street, it seems its day has come. Built in 1906 by a son of Thomas H. Briggs, founder of Briggs Hardware, it has stood witness to the evolution of one of Raleigh’s most attractive and well traveled streets.
An ominous precursor appeared late last week in the form of a chain-link fence circling the property, as if a white sheet had been laid over its lifeless body. This fencing is usually the first step in the abatement process many Raleigh residents have become accustomed to in recent months. With the loss of the NC State bookstore, the Ballentine’s Cafeteria building in Cameron Village, and The Brewery many downtown residents are starting to raise a few eyebrows.
The Briggs House is a typically-styled Queen Anne Transitional, an architectural style common to Raleigh in the early 1900s. Our ancestral residents would have seen these houses lining Hillsborough street from the campus of NC State all the way to the Capitol. Many have been lost over the years to development and neglect, but thankfully the city is still holding on to a precious handful. But by early next week, one more will be gone.
FMW, a Charlotte real estate company, has plans for a mixed-use development on much of the land that has been cleared. The Bolton complex and long-abandoned Staudt Bakery on West Morgan Street were razed last week and cleanup on those sites continues. Â Cameron Park Apartments, the neighboring retail shops including Jade Garden and our iconic IHOP will remain — for now.
According to Mike Campbell, superintendent of demolition for all three sites, work began Monday and will continue through this week as the green asbestos siding that covers the exterior of the house is carefully removed to partially reveal its original wood clapboard siding. Â It will be a sight no one has seen in nearly 60 years.
The inevitable end all started in late summer when some of what makes the Briggs House special was luckily salvaged from its interior. Mantels, mouldings, wainscoting, doors, door and window hardware and the entire staircase were removed. Word has it that the staircase has found a new home in a residence in North Raleigh.
Shortly thereafter, the windows were sealed with plywood and the doors nailed shut. Not even the birds could roost in the old gal.
Following a 2009 Goodnight Raleigh article written about 1301 Hillsborough Street, Preservation North Carolina, an organization devoted to preserving North Carolina’s historic and endangered properties, started efforts to save the house. Director of Urban Issues at PNC, Elizabeth Sappenfield, enthusiastically took on the project. Until very recently it was still listed on their website. The price? Free. If you could move the behemoth, you could sign the deed.  The glaring problem, among several others, was a spot to set the house down. Sappenfield worked to find a site, but there was really only one site suitable for the house in the immediate area; a gravel parking lot just across the street from Cameron Park apartments. The owners of the lot were contacted and they replied by swiftly snuffing any notions of a sale.  Another issue was the present condition of the house. City inspectors claimed that the house wasn’t structurally sound which leads one to wonder, if the house isn’t stable sitting still, how would it react if it were teetering down Hillsborough Street on wheels?
Many will claim good riddance to these neglected structures, but some see these changes as a loss of character and would much rather see them re-purposed — or even moved. This isn’t the first time, nor will it be the last, that our city will lose structures with history and character. Raleigh is constantly sloughing off its decaying, aging and even inconvenient structures. Sometimes, it seems as if planners and developers are irreverent about our history and the aesthetic that makes Raleigh so beautiful, and that may be partially true. However, it is also important to remember that as our city changes we learn to recognize good change from bad. Realistically speaking, 1301 Hillsborough is an eyesore that also poses a danger to the public. In this situation, assuming that moving the house is not possible, razing the house is, sadly, the most rational plan.
On a personal note, and barring any realistic notions of what should happen to the house, I will miss the element of mystery and grittiness it brings to my neighborhood. Passing by and imagining how regal the house once was, what stories it could tell, and pondering its ultimate fate have kept my imagination busy for years. I believe part of what makes losing any old structure, especially the Briggs House, so difficult is the thought of edging ever closer to a point where the Raleigh landscape would be unrecognizable to someone that lived a century earlier.  We are not only losing a historic house, we are losing a faint glimpse of our past.  A past that holds the foundation of our wonderful city.
All photos in this article are by Ian F.G. Dunn.
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS feed
Subscribe to posts by Email
Sign up for the Newsletter
12/01/2011
Great writing, Ian. I’m sad to see it go.
12/01/2011
I know how it feels to loose important structures having seen irreversable changes happen in Hillsborough during my time on the Historic District Commission. This structure was a muse of sorts for you and you and it did great work together.
12/01/2011
Well, we knew this day would come, and when the mantels, hardware, and staircase were removed it was basically an admission of defeat. (Does it bother anyone else to think that the grand staircase now lives in a North Raleigh McMansion? Better that than a pile of rubble I suppose.)
Still, I’m really sad to see it go. Another case of where the cost of restoration would be prohibitively high, given land prices and the lack of space in the area, the costs of stabilizationa and the move itself, plus the challenge and cost of reconstructing the front porch and entryway from nothing but a partial side photo. Too much to take on even for the most adventurous among us, it seems–or at least those with the financial means to do so. This house always seemed to me like a silent observer on Hillsborough from a time gone by, that oval window on the third floor like an eye watching time pass. I’ll miss its presence every time I pass, and in a way I mourn for those who will never know the faded grandeur of what was once there. RIP.
12/01/2011
Also–on a related note–this week was the first I’ve heard of the eventual demolition of the Cameron Park Apartments. I had thought they would remain and the new development be built around the existing building. That’s another real loss for the character of the street–but perhaps the subject of another fine article here?
12/01/2011
You’ll get a fight from me if you want to raze the Jade Garden building. This one and Bolton? meh. As long as the replacement project is a nice one that we’ll like 20 years from now (ha ha).
12/01/2011
Amen
12/01/2011
Nice piece, Ian. PNC and I appreciate your help with the attempt to find a solution.
I agree completely with the sentiments above. This is a big loss to Hillsborough Street. A move for this house was a very long shot, but could have been done if we had found the perfect storm of location and buyer. The City Council and Inspections Dept were very patient in giving us time to work it.
Chris M, as far as I know, the Cameron Park Apartments and Jade Garden building are not part of the FMW project – they are still owned by other parties.
12/01/2011
As a 12-year old middle school student in Apex, NC, people would refer to Hillsborough Street as though it were the red light district of Raleigh. I later learned that concept was largely due to this structure, which became a brothel while the space that later housed The Jackpot was a topless bar. There were other topless joints on Hillsborough St but this building was the most legendary and seediest of them. When it was Bourbon Street Bar, they constantly battled against that image with anti-motorcycle gang dress codes. They wouldn’t even allow you to bring a helmet into the bar.
I’m sure this location will make for a nice bead store, or a new Wing Zone.
12/01/2011
Its a sign of progress. Hillsborough Street has been a dump for years. Forgetting that the cost to revamp a dilapidated building is astronomical, if you had “your” way what would you do with this building?
12/01/2011
I’d be interested to hear an explanation for the ominous “for now” (Reminds me of Hugo Chavez) regarding Jade Garden/Cycle Logic and Cameron Park Apartments. Is this just fatalistic moaning about the supposed “inevitability” of everything nice/old in Raleigh getting torn down, or are there actual concrete plans to demolish and replace them with something else? FMW doesn’t own either.
12/01/2011
@Elizabeth–I now realize I misinterpreted a site plan linked on another forum to mean that the Cameron Park Apts. and Jade Garden would be demolished, when in fact they were simply not included as “existing buildings” on the plan. I thought that the “for now” in the article here confirmed my suspicions, but evidently, and happily, I think I was mistaken. Though I will say that the new construction’s design looks extremely boring!
@Hmmmm–If money were not a concern I would have been first in line to save the Briggs house. Remove the storefront addition, stabilize it enough to move it, and once relocated, reconstruct the original first floor facade/front porch and renovate the home. I think it would fit right in over in the Blount Street Commons project northeast of downtown, as a number of other historic homes of similar scale are already there and they were looking for infill. Or, do what has been done with most of the other homes remaining along Hillsborough street, and after moving it to a lot in the adjacent area renovate for business/office use. Perhaps not the ideal repurpose but one that would save the home for future generations to enjoy.
The main obstacle being that the cost would have been, as you note, “astronomical”.
12/01/2011
OMG! I’m pretty bent out of shape by this article (from way up here). I wish I had been there to witness this. There was no mention of a hope chest full of letters from WWII… Does anyone know what has become of them?
12/03/2011
thank you for writing this. i live nearby and frequented bourbon street back in the day (and never belonged to a motorcycle gang… it was always a friendly, welcoming place… only went to the jackpot a couple of times but never recall it being a topless bar… sheesh). the briggs house has always been fascinating to me and i am truly saddened by its demise.
12/03/2011
I wish there had been more of an opportunity to salvage more of the lumber and materials from the home, there is nothing like that old wood anymore. I am glad to hear that they at least salvaged some of the materials, the stairs and mantels. I wish there had been more materials salvaged out of it though.
Thanks for documenting another Raleigh structure before it has undergone the wrecking ball.
12/04/2011
@Hmmmm, Would that I had the financial means to do it, I would have stabilized it enough to move it in either as is form or numbered reconstruction form. Either way. Then I would have bought a piece of land in the Blount Street Commons area because several lovely historic homes have been relocated to that area and I would have restored it. I added the link below should you care to take a look.
There are tons of resources for that part of it. I am sad to see it go. I was down there today to take some pictures of it. I am glad to hear they were able to salvage the details, though.
I have worked in general real estate and new construction for years and became fascinated by old homes years ago because the workmanship, the details, the intricacies, the craftsmanship and the construction quality isn’t what it was. That house was an eyesore to many but to me and preservationist, it was beautiful and absolutely worth salvaging.
Once I restored it as a private home, borrowing from an idea popular in the NE, I would have re-purposed it as a woman’s house or in-patient rehab or something. It can be done it’s just sad that it couldn’t be done in this case…but yes, we definitely need another condo/mixed use project in Raleigh! (NOT!)
http://www.blountstreetcommons.com/Home.aspx
12/05/2011
In well under 3 hours the house is now a flattened pile of rubble.
12/05/2011
Thanks for sharing, Wesley! I went down and took pictures on Saturday. Guess it’s a good thing I did it when I did it. Funny how the city said it wasn’t structurally sound but they let people in over the summer (thankfully!) to remove the mantels, fireplaces, the staircase and so forth. If was not sound, you wouldn’t have been able to go in, period. It’s water under the bridge but it bugs me that there seems to be no concern for antique architecture.
Thanks again, Wesley, appreciate it.
12/05/2011
Alexa, I would say that it certainly wasn’t structurally sound, but regardless I’m not sure it was legally condemned by the city. Either way, the city never owned the building, so the owners (FMW) could do whatever they want with it, they just couldn’t rent it out or USE it for anything. Letting a salvage crew in is no biggie.
12/05/2011
Wesley, It’s totally moot, I realize, but I was curious so I did some digging. I used to be in real estate so I know where to go and what to look for. 2 articles I found SAY that the city condemned it and that there were 17 pages of code violations.
Had it not been structurally sound, it would not have been standing as it was as recently as yesterday. I’ve seen my fair share of structurally unsound homes. Also, there would have been a notice on the legal front and back entrances and one in a visible location as well speaking to that and there were none. I walked right up the steps onto the porch in summer. No signs. Debris, yes. An old recliner? Yes. Chicken wire over the front door and a side entrance, yes and yes. But no signs. I’ve been to the house 4 times since I found out about the house in early summer and there were never notices of condemnation. Not even yesterday when I was there.
FMW did own it and no, there was no condemnation order which, again, is neither here nor there. It just bothers me. Yes, I realize that the city approved 4 90-day stays but it just feels like so many old, significant buildings in Raleigh have been or are about to be torn down. Glad I got there yesterday to take pictures and glad I did it over the summer, too.
12/06/2011
Condemned properties must be posted, but the physical postings installed on the structure need not remain. Structurally unsound does not mean a that a structure has failed (collapsed). Anyway, I don’t believe the property was class-A condemned, just deemed structurally unsound and/or unfit for habitation.
12/06/2011
Its is now gone, as well as, the bakery building. The Chinese resturant, convience store, and tattoo place don’t seem in a hurry to move yet, though…..
12/06/2011
The Cameron Park Apartments building and the Jade Garden building are not included in this redevelopment project. They are owned by other entities.
12/06/2011
Sara Mascara, I found them and put them in the recycling bin. Did you want them? Sorry, should’ve spoken up sooner. ;-)
This is a well written piece, but some of the comments seem to nostalgically long for a brothel and strip club instead of appreciating the useful urban density project replacing it. Of course it would have been better if instead of letting it turn to crap it could have been moved to Blount Street. But honestly that time has long passed, and Blount Street has plenty of vacant old houses as it is. Preserving significant historic buildings is great, but impeding new development by fighting to keep decrepit eyesores is ridiculous, and a losing battle.
12/07/2011
What about when the new development, certainly not a bad thing of itself, is a cookie-cutter condo block that has, as far as I can tell, absolutely no unique features whatsoever? Not against mixed-use or density–both are great things–but one would hope that a very prominent development replacing several pieces of interesting, if decrepit, pieces of period architecure wouldn’t be so bland and uninspired.
12/07/2011
Of course that would be great too. But that can cost significantly more, and with financing as bad as it is right now, I’m happy to see something nice looking go up… even if it isn’t some architectural marvel.
12/09/2011
For starters, I’m pretty sure Cameron Park Apts and the downstairs businesses are thriving fine enough that they are safe. Really, all that needs to be done there is some paint and general TLC. Otherwise, they are fine.
As for this house. I really hate that it was neglected and got to this sad state. But it did, and there’s no one with the dough to fix or move it. So this is best I guess.
What we really need to do is use this as an example. Look at the houses still sitting un-renovated on the Blount Street Commons project. We need to point to what’s happened here and say “This is what could happen on Blount, too!”. Get the city moving on that.
12/11/2011
I used to live accross the street in the Cameron Park apartments and could see it from my window. I went inside a few times for art shows and even a new year’s party. Sad to see it as a pile of rubble now.
12/14/2011
Thank you so much for writing this article. It broke my heart to see that they tore down this beautiful historic house. I passed it everytime I drove to school and it always intrigued me. I feel better knowing that they salvaged many of the amazing interior architectural elements, including the grand staircase. At least some parts of the house will live on and continue to be enjoyed into the future.
12/21/2011
When I was born, the building my grandfather built, Grosvenor Gardens Apartments, was a mere 14 years old. My mother shopped at the Cameron Park Grocery. We used to visit Mrs. Pete at her little cafe next door, where she’d serve us Fleetwood hot chocolate. My father worked in the Raleigh Building on Fayetteville Street. The two elevators were chauffeur-driven then. Since that era so much has come and gone, it’s almost dizzying.
The physical world is all about change. I want people who value this neighborhood to know how much I love it. I was born there, spent many years living there, and I think of Grosvenor Gardens and the ground below it as something sacred.
Raleigh is on track to become a truly great city. Growth can be maddeningly complex but it’s absolutely necessary in civic life, just as it is individual life.
12/25/2011
i’ve passed by this building for as long as i can remember, as well as the staudt bread factory. i personally am very sad to see these buildings go! i wish they could’ve just fixed them up and repurposed but i guess that isn’t possible.
01/28/2016
How heartbreaking!!! Still…
“To every thing, there is a season…”
Eccl 3:1