Little Lake Hill

ABOUT LITTLE LAKE HILL
(OUR HOME)

Built in 1932 and occupied by a childless couple, the Fergusons, the original house sits high on a hill overlooking the pond and many ornamental gardens that were painstakingly built and nurtured by Mrs. Ferguson. Nancy was an artist and she designed and planned the gardens as though they were a painting. Stone walls, steps and rock barriers pop up unexpectedly everywhere, and within grow many hundreds of species of perennials, bulbs, herbs, shrubs and trees…. many of them rare, many of them native. The prettiest red maple tree in Raleigh sits in the front yard. It was the first tree Nancy and John put in the ground. She called it 'Sport'. In the fall people drive from all over to witness the blazing display of leaves. When the city threatened to cut the tree down in 1980 Mrs. Ferguson chained herself to the tree with a shotgun in her hand, threatening to shoot out the tires of the equipment the men brought with them to take down the tree! It still stands! Bett surely would do the same! Below you will find photos dating 1932-1937 that were shared with us by Margaret Voyles, John Ferguson's sister. The house, with the addition and renovations looks very different now, but still quite charming.

Some common summer scenes at LLH. Keep scrolling for more photos taken in 1932-1937!

The magnificent picture window in the living room overlooks the driveway and where the pond once was. It is finally visible after a year of cleanup!
The top of the flaming red maple the Ferguson's planted in 1932.It was the first plant they put in the ground and Nancy fondly named it 'Sport'. In 1980 the City of Raleigh threatened to cut it down to build a sidewalk on their side of the street! Nancy chained herself to this tree with a shotgun in hand ---she was going to blow out the tires of any truck that got near her tree! Good for her! The maple has been cloned by Richard Taylor of Taylor's Nursery. Sometimes we have them available for a $30 donation for each tree. The donations in the past have gone to Trees Across Raleigh, sometimes to the Conservation of North Carolina, Dix 306, and/or the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society. Alas, the crown of the tree died in 2008, so she has lost some of her grandeur, but is still one of the highlights for Raleigh's 'Peepers'. (Tree Peepers!)

Yes! The Padgetts completed their move after nearly 29 years in one house in very late 1999! Less than a mile from their former home they found a beautiful old home on 3 acres of land within the beltline in Raleigh (hard to imagine!) It borders Hymettus Woods Nature Park (4 + acres of land given to the city), so it’s like having 8 acres in our back yard. On the property are two creeks that wind around some large boulders and down a hill. When it rains we have our own waterfall. Also, a pond that those amazing border collies will enjoy. Because of the pond, the property has been called Little Lake Hill for as long as anyone can remember.

The garden shots here were taken in 2000 and MUCH has been added to fill in the bare spots.

Click Here for pictures of the house and property taken in 2000. Many changes are taking place. Many more shrubs and flowers are covering the grounds. The house is now a lovely cream color. Here are some 'before and after scenes'!

	Same window, but many new items in the lower driveway garden AND a fresh coat of paint.

Who would believe that such a waterfall could exist in the center of Raleigh? These scenes, before and after, and always in transition. A LOT can happen in a few years, with hard work, determination, imagination and a STRONG BACK!!

We've never had a deck in our 35 years together UNTIL 2003! We made up for lost time with this 3 level deck that flows into the gardenzzzz!

PHOTOS FROM 1930'S


Taken from the path to the waterfall and the trail around the lake, off the lower driveway	The arched doorway has been replaced with a large front porch with handmade 100 year old brick. There is now a wide overhand (like a skirt) all around the house, making it possible to walk all around the house without getting wet when it rains.


View of the picture window in the living room. Nancy kept ~ 145 African violets in that window. Eventually, she planted a vine around it to use as a natural curtain.	A picture of the pond. If enlarged, Nancy is sitting on a pier feeding ducks. The boat was still in use to putter around the pond in the 1980's. Her favorite duck was named 'Duck Duck'! S/he is buried in the upper garden behind the house.


A photo taken in 1937. We hope this will be possible again soon!	The small window to the left of the chimney is now in a closet in the entryway. The half-moon window has a candle in it which shines at night. The 'twig' planted to the left of the snow-covered pine in front of the chimney could well be the red maple. Nancy Ferguson called it 'sport'

Mr. Ferguson survived his wife and died in 1988 and the house was unoccupied until 1990 when Jack Lamm and Bob Wilder bought the property. Bob, a rare plant and rock garden enthusiast, and Jack, an architect and interior decorator succeeded in remodeling the old house and making an addition that gives a total of 4800+ square feet to the house. All the pups and Bill/Bett have plenty of space to get lost in now and Bill now has plenty of room for his many collections (remember…the Warehome?), the dogs have more space and Bett has a grand place to host a house party series called Little Lake Hill House Parties for musicians, speakers, readings, political events. The home provides an intimate and elegant setting for any type of gathering. The ‘stage’ area will look out over the pond and several gardens.

It is going to be an exciting adventure in the years ahead to watch Little Lake Hill live up to its potential as one of the finest gathering places in the Research Triangle Area as a venue for many events ..... as well as for living!

For more pictures of Little Lake Hill, click HERE.

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