Night Whispers Paranormal Research
Investigations
THE OVAL BALLROOMm another title
THE SANDFORD HOUSE
title
HERITAGE & LORE
Famous Residents
Confederate Captain John E. P. Daingerfield
Elliot Daingerfield
Ghostly Apparitions
Timeline
1797
Mark Russel originally owned the land on which the house stands, and John McLeran built the home. Duncan McLeran purchased the home from John, his kinsman. Duncan McLeran was one of the first elders of the historic Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville.
1804
John Adam purchased the home. Sarah Donaldson Adam, John's wife, also links to the Presbyterian Church because her father donated the land on which the church was built.
1820
Under new ownership, the Sandford House was transformed into the first federal bank in North Carolina.
1832
John William Sandford (the current namesake and former cashier at the bank) purchased the building and made it a home with Margaret Halliday, his new wife. Interestingly, The Oval Ballroom (also at Heritage Square) is the room Margaret's step-mother had built for Margaret and John's wedding. Originally, the Oval Ballroom was the North Wing of the Halliday-Williams house.
1865
According to local legend, Sherman's troops used the house as barracks during the Union occupation of Fayetteville in March 1865. painting by Larry Arnold
Whether that legend is true or not, a bullet from the occupation did fly into the home. It chipped the marble mantle in the north room. Unfortunately, a former president had the chipped marble mantle repaired, innocently thinking it needed to be done. (Yankee, of course!) Fortunately, the repair does not match well, and we can still see where the bullet hit today.
"The Civil War Trail" runs through the backyard of the Sandford House today.
1873
Former Confederate Captain John E.P. Daingerfield purchased the home. Elliot Daingerfield, John's son and renowned North Carolina artist, lived here throughout his teenage years.
Circa 1897
A.H. Slocumb (of Massachusetts), husband of Lillian Taylor (a Fayetteville belle) purchased the home. A.H. Slocumb worked in Fayetteville's naval stores with the A.E. Rankin Company. Subsequently, W.H. Powell and his family resided in the Sandford House.
World War II
Around 1941, the Woman's Club rented The Sandford House from its owners. The Club opened the doors to the home and provided suitable living quarters for unmarried working women flooding into the city at that time. Thirty young, single women, a housemother and hostess packed the second floor dormitory style. (Thirty women and four bathrooms?!)
YWCA PostcardThe Woman's Club also provided space for any other women's' organization to meet in the house free of charge in an effort to accommodate the town's growing need for social outlets. This period was marked with parties to which many of Fort Bragg's young soldiers would flock to meet the houseful of eligible single women and their friends.
In 1941, the club purchased the "Slocumb House" but later renamed it the "Sandford House."
HERITAGE AND LORE
Famous Residents
Ann K. Simpson
Fanny Williams
Timeline
1808
Robert Halliday, an immigrant from Galloway, Scotland, built the house to which the ballroom was later attached in 1808. He lived there with his wife, Catherine (Kitty) McQueen Halliday, and their family until he died in 1816.
c. 1820-1830
Catherine married Judge John Cameron after Robert Halliday's death. The Cameron family erected two similar octagonal wings onto the home. The room on the north side of the house was built specifically for the reception and ball following the 1830 wedding of Margaret, Robert's daughter, to John Sandford.
1847
The Camerons began renting out the house. One notable character, Mrs. Ann K. Simpson, occupied the home during it's rental period. Charged with the murder of her husband by arsenic, young Mrs. Simpson's story became the "Trial of the Century" in 1850. Reports indicate that Ann poisoned her husband in what became The Oval Ballroom.
Interestingly, William H. Haigh of the Baker-Haigh-Nimocks House reported on the trial of Ann Simpson; his report is in the UNC at Chapel Hill Library.
1870
John D. Williams purchased the house for his son, Captain Arthur Butler Williams.
c. 1930
Sometime prior to 1930, Fanny "Fan" Williams, Captain Butler's daughter, inherited the home. She transformed the house into The Colonial Inn which became a popular tourist stop in the 1930s.
1956
Mrs. M. B. McLean, Fanny's niece, donated the Colonial Inn's "dining room" (previously the Cameron's "north room") to The Woman's Club of Fayetteville. In the mid 1950s, The Woman's Club of Fayetteville renamed the now freestanding room as "The Oval Ballroom" and moved it to it's current location on Heritage Square.
Noted architect of the old South, William Nicholas, designed the oval room in the Regency Style. The "Oval Ballroom" is is an elongated octagon in form on the outside and a perfect oval on the inside (20' x 30'). Because of its unique design, the room is registered in the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. and featured in the book, Early Architecture of North Carolina by Johnston and Waterman.
1997
The Cumberland County Committee of the Colonial dames of America began a campaign to complete research and to restore the Oval Ballroom. Today, the room presents it's original beauty. It is furnished with period pieces given by the Colonial dames who continue their interest and support of Heritage Square.
The object of the Woman's Club shall be to promote civic, cultural, educational, and social welfare of the city, to preserve Heritage Square, and to promote historical preservation in the community.
The Woman's Club is fortunate to have the support of our community. We ask that youcontinue your help and concern as we keep this Fayetteville showplace, Heritage Square, for us and for future generations to enjoy.
All three of the buildings on Heritage Square in Fayetteville, North Carolina are owned by the Woman's Club of Fayetteville. The club dedicated itself to preserving history in 1906, and today's challenge of preserving the buildings on Heritage Square continues to motivate us all. Every time we rent the grounds or homes for private event venues or raise money through sponsoring or co-sponsoring community events, the proceeds go toward restoring and preserving the properties.
In addition to our goal of preserving Heritage Square, members from all areas of Cumberland County work in friendship and harmony on charitable projects each year. Our charity work centers around families - the lifeblood of our community.
If you would like to donate or become a member of The Woman's Club of Fayetteville, you may call the club at (910) 483-6900 or email us through the following form for information.
HERITAGE AND LORE
ARCHITECTURE
Exterior
The Baker-Haigh-Nimocks House, built in 1804, is an example of Georgian architecture, perfectly balanced and symmetrical inside and out. The Nimocks House exhibits a proportional, classical, and "regular" style. "Regular" styles are defined by mathematical ratios (such as the golden mean) that are used to determine every measurement from the floor layout to the width to height ratio of the windows. Georgian Style homes were typically painted red, tan, and/or white if not constructed from brick or stone.
The Woman's Club purchased this home in 1966 and immediately removed the asymmetrical additions to the exterior, restoring the home's intended Georgian grandeur. The club also uncovered the heart pine floors.
Interior
New England ship builders often wintered in the south during this time period. Their unique building style probably explains the unusual barrel staircase design in the Nimocks House. In addition, the hand carved cornices, wainscoting, mantels, and hand-punched gouge work are beautifully detailed and typical of the period.
The front entrance features a fan light and the light fixture at the top of the staircase was planned for use in the state capital building if Fayetteville had remained the capital.
The two upstairs rooms feature dormer windows and individual fireplaces.
RESTORATION
Regretfully, restoration of the Baker-Haigh-Nimocks House has been delayed. The Woman's Club needs your help to continue restoration efforts on this beautiful home.
Woman's Club of Fayettevillem another title
THE BAKER-HAIGH-NIMOCKS HOUSEm another title
The Woman’s Club of Fayetteville, Inc.
HERITAGE SQUARE
August 31, 2013
The following investigation was conducted by Night Whispers Paranormal Investigators & Southern Paranormal Society NC
on August 31st.
