Demolition of nearby home inspires protection of Ramsay-Hurley House
Published 12:00 am Saturday, December 28, 2024
The 1950 Alexander-Johnston House at 17 Pine Tree Road was recently demolished.
The 1950 Alexander-Johnston House at 17 Pine Tree Road was recently demolished.
1950 Ramsay-Hurley House will be protected following the demolition of the neighboring Alexander-Johnston House. - Submitted
Vintage interior photo of the living room of the 1950 Ramsay-Hurley House. - Submitted
Vintage interior photo of the dining room inside the 1950 Ramsay-Hurley House. - Submitted
By Tom Fisher
For the Salisbury Post
The recent demolition of the 1950 Alexander-Johnston House at 17 Pine Tree Road has sparked a renewed commitment to preservation.
Designed by North Carolina’s most celebrated Modernist architect, John Erwin Ramsay Sr., the Alexander-Johnston House stood as an intact example of mid-20th-century Modernist design. Despite statewide efforts by architects, preservationists and neighbors to save it, the house was ultimately lost, highlighting what some say is an urgent need for broader preservation efforts in Salisbury.
John E. Ramsay Jr., son of the famed Modernist architect and retired architect himself noted, “The demolition of the Alexander Johnston House is a loss, but it may yet inspire a broader vision for preservation — one that ensures Salisbury’s evolving history remains visible for generations to come.”
Distressed by the demolition next door, the owner of the neighboring Ramsay-Hurley House— also designed in 1950 by John Erwin Ramsay Sr.— has taken decisive steps to secure her home’s future by placing protective covenants on the property. In addition, efforts are underway to have the Ramsay-Hurley House added to the National Register of Historic Places, ensuring its architectural and historical significance is formally recognized. These efforts demonstrate that individuals and communities can take action to protect their local landmarks, even when broader systems fail. Many feel that Salisbury has an opportunity to build on this momentum — to recognize and safeguard structures from the mid-to-late 20th century before they, too, are lost to neglect or demolition.
“Most are surprised to learn that North Carolina has the third largest concentration of mid-century Modernist homes in America. These brilliant houses are frequently endangered and torn down, largely because buyers, sellers and Realtors do not realize the importance of what they have or how to preserve, repair and protect these livable works of art,” said George Smart, CEO of US Modernist, the largest open digital archive of midcentury Modernist houses in the world.
To date, Salisbury’s preservation efforts have largely focused on structures from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, such as those within Salisbury’s five designated Local Historic Districts and 10 National Historic Districts. Yet, many believe it is time to consider homes and buildings from the mid-to-late 20th century as part of the city’s rich historical tapestry. Sharing this sentiment is Jack Thomson, the western office regional director for Preservation North Carolina, the organization that offered to purchase the Alexander-Johnston house for $35,000 more than the owners paid just a few months ago.
“People often believe that preservation is a movement stuck in time, when quite the opposite is true,” he said. “Historic preservation seeks to preserve the places that are important to a community, regardless of chronology. Covering a broad range of time, including recent design and even the work of contemporary architects and civic planners, preservation seeks to enrich our lives through the built environment. When important expressions of design are lost, so are parts of a community’s history.”
The Historic Salisbury Foundation’s 49th Annual October Tour broke with tradition this year by expanding beyond the West Square Historic District to showcase homes in the Country Club of Salisbury neighborhood, an area characterized by mid-to-late 20th century architecture. Homes in the country club neighborhood exhibit a broad range of architectural styles and were built by well-known Salisburians like Walter F. McCanless, John Henry Isenhour and the Robertson, Ketner, Stanback and Hurley families. The tour was exceptionally well attended, drawing enthusiastic crowds and demonstrating the community’s interest in preserving and celebrating homes from a broader history.
Edward Norvell, president of the Historic Salisbury Foundation summarized: “The conversation is just beginning, but the message is clear: Salisbury’s history extends far beyond the 18th and 19th centuries. If we are to truly preserve the city’s heritage, we must embrace its full story, including the architectural treasures of the mid-to-late 20th century.”
