215 N Occoneechee St, Hillsborough, NC 27278

Sitting on one of the highest spots in Hillsboroughs Historic District, 215 N. Occoneechee Street, ca 1898, is a well-preserved example of early 20th-century architecture. Originally built by John and Sally Christmas as a classic two-over-two more than a century ago, this homes history is reflected through a blend of preserved features and rich oral stories passed down through the years. nnThe house was remodeled some time in the 1940s to add the two-story front porch and bathroom. The grouped columns on the porch are identical to those at 210 W. King Street, and neighborhood lore notes that the homes owner and local contractor, R.S. Crawford, worked on both properties. The Gattis family, who purchased the house in 1965, added the back wing for a bedroom (now the kitchen, dining and family room) and enclosed the side porch to expand the kitchen and add a laundry room.nnToday, this home occupies one of the largest lots in the district. With over 1.6 acres of woods and naturally terraced green space, theres room to expand the main house, add an ADU, plant a kitchen garden, gather friends around a fire, play lawn games, and more.nnStretching across the entire facade, the wide Mt. Vernon-style front porch recalls a time when life moved at a slower pace. Its eastern orientation offers a cool break from the afternoon heat and ample room for outdoor living and al fresco dining. Wood floors on the main level include hardwoods in the front rooms and heart pine in the dining and family