Mistletoe Villa
Encyclopedia
The Hughes-Young house, most commonly known as Mistletoe Villa, is a historic house in Henderson, NC. The house is often cited for its ornate Victorian detail and architectural elements. The first house on the site was built for William H. Hughes and completed in 1855. From 1883 to 1885 the house was significantly redesigned and overbuilt on the previous foundation for Ike J. Young, Civil War
Colonel and four-term mayor of Henderson. The design of the current house is attributed to the famed architect Samuel Sloan but that fact has not been officially documented.
style dwelling which was completed in 1855. In the years following the Civil War Hughes experienced a number of financial problems and became unable to continue repayment of his debt for the land. An extended court battle ensued between the Hughes and Young families and ultimately the land was returned to the Youngs in 1883. The heir to the land, Colonel Ike J. Young, began working on plans for a significant redesign and rebuilding of the Hughes house.
It is widely speculated that well-known Philadelphia-based architect Samuel Sloan was commissioned to dramatically redesign the Hughes house. Sloan was working in North Carolina on another prominent structures in 1883, including the North Carolina Executive Mansion
in Raleigh. Distinct similarities between the completed Mistletoe Villa and the Executive mansion, down to the final color scheme, are often cited by historians as evidence of Sloan's involvement in the design. Unfortunately Sloan died in Raleigh in 1884 before either project was completed. As construction was nearing completion in 1885 Colonel Young made a trip to New York City
in search of furnishings for the new home where suffered a stroke
and died, never having the opportunity to claim the house as a home.
The newly over-built house extends beyond the original stone foundation of the Hughes house, which is still visible. A number of indoor elements, including floor boards, doors, lock hardware, mantels
and others items were preserved and repurposed in the house. The completed house is an example of Queen Anne Style
Victorian architecture
and features multi-faceted detail woodwork. The house was originally lighted by carbide light fixtures
which were fueled by gas generated on the property in a small brick building and piped into the house. Although unusual for the era, the house was equipped with indoor plumbing which was supplied and pressurized by a large reservoir in the attic which functioned similarly to a simple water tower
. The house also contained other innovative elements for the time including a "speak tube" which would allow people in the dining room to communicate with servants in the kitchen on the floor below. A button was also integrated into the floor of the dining room which, when pressed, would alert servants downstairs that assistance was desired upstairs.
During World War II
a 30-foot square iron
widow's walk on the roof was donated to the US Government
which was looking for scrap metal from civilians to aide in the war effort
. During that same period trains transporting US troops would pass the house and deliver German prisoners of war
to a factory next door to work. Children growing up in the house described having conversations German prisoners with the assistance of a translator as well as playing games of catch with them.
It is unknown exactly when the house was given its distinctive name but it has been attributed to "all the mistletoe
that just drooled from the trees."
and was sold to the NC Historic Preservation Fund to search for a new owners. In 1979 a couple from Washington, D.C.
bought the house after seeing it featured in an advertisement in a history-related publication. The couple would complete a 500 mile round trip every other-weekend to make repairs and would own the house until 1991. In addition to using the house as a weekend retreat and project they opened the house to the public and allowed for catered events and parties, a trend that would continue through some future owners as well.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Colonel and four-term mayor of Henderson. The design of the current house is attributed to the famed architect Samuel Sloan but that fact has not been officially documented.
History
In 1853 Demetrius Ellis Young sold two acres of land to William H. Hughes, which was claimed to be the highest point between Weldon, NC and Raleigh, NC. This land had previously been set aside for an all-male educational academy that had been operating for the last decade. It would instead be used as the site of the Hughes house, a Greek RevivalGreek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
style dwelling which was completed in 1855. In the years following the Civil War Hughes experienced a number of financial problems and became unable to continue repayment of his debt for the land. An extended court battle ensued between the Hughes and Young families and ultimately the land was returned to the Youngs in 1883. The heir to the land, Colonel Ike J. Young, began working on plans for a significant redesign and rebuilding of the Hughes house.
It is widely speculated that well-known Philadelphia-based architect Samuel Sloan was commissioned to dramatically redesign the Hughes house. Sloan was working in North Carolina on another prominent structures in 1883, including the North Carolina Executive Mansion
North Carolina Executive Mansion
The North Carolina Executive Mansion is the official residence of the Governor of North Carolina and his or her family. Building began in the year 1883 and it was designed by noted architects Samuel Sloan and A.G. Bauer. The first occupants, Governor Daniel G. Fowle and his family, moved into the...
in Raleigh. Distinct similarities between the completed Mistletoe Villa and the Executive mansion, down to the final color scheme, are often cited by historians as evidence of Sloan's involvement in the design. Unfortunately Sloan died in Raleigh in 1884 before either project was completed. As construction was nearing completion in 1885 Colonel Young made a trip to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in search of furnishings for the new home where suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
and died, never having the opportunity to claim the house as a home.
The newly over-built house extends beyond the original stone foundation of the Hughes house, which is still visible. A number of indoor elements, including floor boards, doors, lock hardware, mantels
Fireplace mantel
Fireplace mantel or mantelpiece, also known as a chimneypiece, originated in medieval times as a hood that projected over a grate to catch the smoke. The term has evolved to include the decorative framework around the fireplace, and can include elaborate designs extending to the ceiling...
and others items were preserved and repurposed in the house. The completed house is an example of Queen Anne Style
Queen Anne Style architecture (United States)
In America, the Queen Anne style of architecture, furniture and decorative arts was popular in the United States from 1880 to 1910. In American usage "Queen Anne" is loosely used of a wide range of picturesque buildings with "free Renaissance" details rather than of a specific formulaic style in...
Victorian architecture
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
and features multi-faceted detail woodwork. The house was originally lighted by carbide light fixtures
Carbide lamp
Carbide lamps, properly known as acetylene gas lamps, are simple lamps that produce and burn acetylene which is created by the reaction of calcium carbide with water....
which were fueled by gas generated on the property in a small brick building and piped into the house. Although unusual for the era, the house was equipped with indoor plumbing which was supplied and pressurized by a large reservoir in the attic which functioned similarly to a simple water tower
Water tower
A water tower or elevated water tower is a large elevated drinking water storage container constructed to hold a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system....
. The house also contained other innovative elements for the time including a "speak tube" which would allow people in the dining room to communicate with servants in the kitchen on the floor below. A button was also integrated into the floor of the dining room which, when pressed, would alert servants downstairs that assistance was desired upstairs.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
a 30-foot square iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
widow's walk on the roof was donated to the US Government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
which was looking for scrap metal from civilians to aide in the war effort
United States home front during World War II
This page, United States home front during World War II, covers the developments within the United States, 1940–1945, to support its efforts during World War II.-Economics:...
. During that same period trains transporting US troops would pass the house and deliver German prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
to a factory next door to work. Children growing up in the house described having conversations German prisoners with the assistance of a translator as well as playing games of catch with them.
It is unknown exactly when the house was given its distinctive name but it has been attributed to "all the mistletoe
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemi-parasitic plants in several families in the order Santalales. The plants in question grow attached to and within the branches of a tree or shrub.-Mistletoe in the genus Viscum:...
that just drooled from the trees."
Restoration Efforts
Mistletoe Villa was abandoned in 1964 and would remain unoccupied for more than a decade. Near the end of the 1970s the house was added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and was sold to the NC Historic Preservation Fund to search for a new owners. In 1979 a couple from Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
bought the house after seeing it featured in an advertisement in a history-related publication. The couple would complete a 500 mile round trip every other-weekend to make repairs and would own the house until 1991. In addition to using the house as a weekend retreat and project they opened the house to the public and allowed for catered events and parties, a trend that would continue through some future owners as well.