James W. Stowe Home

This handsome two-and-a-half story Colonial Revival style home was built Circa 1913 for James William Stowe and his wife Zada Rankin Stowe. Stowe was the president of Eagle Yarn Mills, which was torn down to make room for the Eagle Park subdivision. He was the brother of Robert Lee Stowe, Sr, George Washington Stowe and Samuel Pickney Stowe, Sr and had four sisters. His wife Zada was a daughter of Whiten Robertus Rankin and Judith McKee Rankin, and their homeplace stood where South Point High School is today.

The house was designed by Louis Asbury of Charlotte. He was the first professionally trained, full time architect in the state of North Carolina and was very active during the 1910’s and 1920’s and went on to become quite famous. He is remembered for several styles of architecture, including the Colonial Revival style of this home. He designed many famous buildings and homes in the region which still stand today. Noteworthy are the Mecklenburg County Courthouse and Myers Park United Methodist Church. It is thought that the plans for this house were among his earliest work since the original blueprints and specs bear no number or date.

The home has been in the Stowe family for over 100 years and is affectionately known to them as "The Homeplace". The current owners, Joe and Janice Stowe, moved into the house in 1982 with their three children. Before the move, almost a year was spent in making upgrades and adding some modern amenities like central air and heat. The exterior has never been changed much, though the screen on the front porch was removed, and a large deck was added off the back. The house still boasts 8 fireplaces, four on each floor. In the beginning it also had a chimney in the kitchen for wood cookstove. There was never a well on the property as water was taken from the community well across the street. Though only two families have lived in the home, it has been a gathering place for the generations. The Stowes' six grandchildren have as much fun as earlier generations playing on the stairs and running through the yard and woods. Jim and Zada’s legacy lives on with the offspring of their 5 children, 9 grandchildren, and innumerable great grandchildren.

Bonus Fun Fact: the same floor plan was later used for the brick home which sits next to Alexander Memorial Baptist Church but the floor plan was reversed !

The architectural description reads as such: The three-bay frame house has a hip roof with a slightly raised central gable, accentuated by modillion blocks. A one-story, wraparound porch with pedimented entrance bay is supported by columns.