Azalea Festival Historic Home Tour Highlight – “Tuscany”

It’s known as “Tuscany”. Built in 1854 in what was the outskirts of town, this Fifth Avenue home set a new standard for Wilmington.

“This was substantial,” says owner Chris Wilson. “It was as grand as any home in Wilmington prior to the construction of the Bellamy Mansion.”

The home was designed by architect James F. Post, a man who also crafted Wilmington masterpieces Thalian Hall and the Bellamy Mansion. It’s seen countless owners and one major fire throughout the years, but is now as striking as ever.

Step inside, and you’re immediately drawn to the home’s signature room, its double parlor.

“This would have been the main, public room of the house,” says Wilson. “It was intended to impress including the imported ionic columns that came from New York City for the house.”

Highlights inside this home include its English basement, a chandelier that once called the White House home, and a recently restored “come and go” staircase.

Even though some might see this house as a piece of history, for Kathy and Chris Wilson, they call it a home. Chris says, “My wife and I very much enjoy using our things, my daughter’s had parties in this room. So its not off limits, we actually use the space and use the house.”