Interior Details
Foyer:
• 19th Century Chandelier and matching wall sconces were gifts from the Ladwig family
ART:
• Picasso master print, framed by Josephine Brown
• (Staircase) – Emperor Franz Joseph, Austrian royalty, given by local antique
collectors
• Abstract painting near rear door by Applewhite (ACC/Barton student in the
1970s)
• Vases, by Virginia Graves, 1979 (painted in professor Chris Wilson’s class),
donated by her children
• Leonid Afermov master study, A Pretty Night, palette knife oil on canvas,
Theresa Scott, Barton alumna, 2015 (selected for display from juried art show,
now Barton College collection). Ms. Scott did her graduate work at Duke
University and has returned to teach art and photography at Barton.
• The painting at the end of the foyer is by Barton professor emeritus J. Chris
Wilson, 1988 Susan Harris, alumna, painting from Wilson Arts Miniature Masterpiece event
• Photos of Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Graves (William and Gladys)
• Large pottery vessel by Mark Hewitt, well-known North Carolina potter (trustee gift)
• Terra cotta horse and rider from T’ang dynasty (in vestibule on the way to breakfast
room), purchased by the Plyler’s in Xi’an (“she-an”), China. Local craftsman, Stan
Corbett, harvested black walnut wood from the property to make the custom case (in
the vestibule between foyer and breakfast room)
• The exquisite moldings in the foyer, living room, dining room, and music room are
plaster, created by an itinerant plasterer.
Living Room:
The exquisite moldings in the foyer, living room, dining room, and music room are plaster, created by an itinerant plasterer.
• Mahogany Chippendale Chairs were designed by the late Stuart Walston and hand carved by Wilson woodcarver Hart Wiggins
• Painting by Juliana (Atlanta, GA) – above the chest
• Painting by Omar & Malva; Hamdi, a Syrian Kurdish artist – above fireplace
• J. J. Audubon prints, Blue Crain and Louisiana Heron
• Enzo Torcoletti sculpture, gift to Barton-Graves House in honor of Dr. Doug and Beth
Searcy in appreciation for the Artist-In-Residence Program at Barton College, 2015.
• Chair from Boone Antiques, given by Doug Boone
• 12’ x 18’ custom Dhurrie Rosecore wool area rug in the neoclassical tradition selected by interior designer Eliza Stephenson.
Library:
• Bookshelves by Stephenson Millwork
• 19th Century game table
• Marble chess set from New Orleans
• Teller Marble from the original BB&T building
• Mixed media work by Paul Hartley, professor at East Carolina University
• Ships on glass, gift of Ladwigs
Powder Room:
• Melting Clock etching, Salvador Dalí, 1968 (framed by Josephine Brown)
Guest Bedroom (downstairs):
• This was the Master Bedroom for Mr. and Mrs. Graves. He had been injured in a farm
accident and had difficulty climbing stairs.
• Photo of Mr. and Mrs. Graves and children
• Queen-sized poster bed designed and gifted by Stuart Walston (matching king-sized bed in Raleigh), canopy fabric by Scalamandre and Brunswig Fis.
• Draperies and Chair – all designed by Stuart Walston Interiors
• Needlepoint benches from the Barton College Collection
• Duke of Wellington commemorative silk scarf
• Mixed medium art by Susan Fecho, Dean of Department of Visual and Performing Art and Communication
• “A New Day,” Pastel, Maureen O’Neill, Barton faculty (2015)
Dining Room:
• The Regency table with 14 matching oriental chairs.
• “Violet,” sterling silver flatware collection, set of 24
• Chandelier was purchased in Italy and given in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Vance Forbes, Sr. by Tina and Dan Hensley in 2010.
• Sideboard has been a part of the College President’s Home since before the move to the West Nash address
• Persian Rug was a gift from the Ladwig family
• Sterling silver tea service “Fleury” by Gorham on silver-plated tray by English Silver
Manufacturing, given by Mr. and Mrs. J. Robert Boykin, III.
• Silver-plated tea set a gift from Dan and Tina Hensley. Dan Hensley served Barton
College as the Chaplain and in other roles.
• A painting over the mantel is by Portuguese painter Villati
• View of the Villa (Fiesole, Italy), Oil on cotton canvas, 1962, Josephine Brown (on loan
from artist), reminiscent of Cezanne’s mountain studies.
• Local artist and Barton supporter Susan Webb painted the Barton bell Tower piece.
• The exquisite moldings in the foyer, living room, dining room, and music room are plaster, created by an itinerant plasterer.
Music Room:
• The exquisite moldings in the foyer, living room, dining room, and music room are plaster, created by an itinerant plasterer.
• Piano – 1914 Steinway, a gift from the late Janie Griffin, a trustee for more than 30 years
• Portraits of Alpheus and Nonnie Branch, founders of BB&T, dated from 1840s
Sunroom:
• Pottery by former Barton art professor Mark Gordon
• The Thin Veil, Pastel, Maureen O’Neill, Barton faculty (Searcy private collection, gift to
Dr. Douglas Searcy by his family on his inauguration. The “veil” series reflects the “thin
places,” places or moments when the distance between heaven and earth collapses and we are able to glimpse the divine.)
• Howard Chapel painting by Marion Clark Weathers, Barton continuing education student, 2016 (close friend and sorority sister of Beth Searcy)
• Whirligig acrylic, by Heather Stapp, Wilson Active Artist Association, 2015.
• House replica found by the Searcys in 2015 in basement storage
Butler’s Pantry:
• Floor – original heart of pine (found during the 2003 renovation)
• Radiator was made for plate warming
• Cabinet surfaces were refinished and new sinks were installed in this space
• This area is used as a staging area for meals for the many events held at the Barton-Graves House
• Painting by J. Chris Wilson, professor emeritus
• “Paperwork,” Oil on canvas, Benjamin Hawley, Barton alumnus, selected by Searcys from juried art show
China patterns:
• “Wilton Lily” by AG Harley Jones – Stoke-on-Trent, England, 16 place setting
• “WLB112” by Walbrzych – Poland (blue and gold strip), 4 place setting
• “Thun 368” by Thun – Czechoslovakia (purplish), 12 place setting
• “Warwick Gold” by Gorham, 16 place settings
• “Hanover” by Fitz and Floyd, 14 place settings owned by Beth Searcy
• Sterling silver flatware, “Violet” by Whiting, 22 place setting
Breakfast Room:
• Persian rug
• History of Wilson signed, numbered montage, Jerry Taylor, 2003
• Oil on canvas, Elizabeth Farnsworth, 2017
• Table from Rummage Warehouse
Kitchen:
• Original heart of pine floors
• Cabinets made by Stephenson Millwork
• Renovated in 2003, the small kitchen offers personal kitchen facilities, a pantry, and
catering prep space with warming drawers. A laundry closet is adjacent, as well as a
screened-in back porch.
Back Porch
• Original lattice
• The ramp on the west side of the house was added in 2017 to improve accessibility
Basement
The unfinished basement is used for personal and college storage and has a “roughed-in” bathroom and workspace with a utility sink.
2nd level
The private residence of the presidential family, the 2 nd floor is comprised of two large rooms with fireplaces (the master bedroom and a den), two bathrooms, and three smaller rooms (2 bedrooms and an office).
3rd level
The attic was finished as a recreational space in 2015 by the Board of Trustees. It also offers a storage area and cedar closet.