HISTORIC HOME TOUR: Captain John Harper House

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Captain John Harper House is known as the crown jewel of downtown Wilmington.

You can see why on this weekend’s Azalea Festival Home Tour.

The house at 311 S. Front Street sits far back from the street, but does not go unnoticed. Built in 1903, it is pyramidal in design complete with a Queen Anne porch, Doric columns, and a grand staircase, plus original floors and tile.

The former owners did years of renovations to bring back its crown jewel status. Something the current homeowner witnessed before he even knew he’d buy the home.

“Well, it’s kind of interesting, because when I first moved downtown, I used to walk by this house every day going downtown, and I would watch the progress and just kind of wonder what it would be like to live in this house one day,” said Tom Moore, the homeowner.

The Azalea Festival Home Tour runs Saturday and Sunday. It opens with a ribbon cutting at the Captain John Harper House Saturday afternoon shortly after the parade.