Historic 1883 Mansion That Was Left in Shambles After Being Moved Twice Undergoes Staggering Makeover Before Heading to Auction

Moving house is a rite of passage that many people will go through in their lifetime. But moving the house itself? That’s an experience that few will go through.

But one historic property in Greensboro, GA, has been deemed so special that it was plucked from its location not once but twice—and it is now preparing to make yet another journey: to the auction block.

The 6,837-square-foot property will go under the hammer on Nov. 11, 2024, when it will be sold off to the highest bidder. And with no reserve price, the property, which was originally listed for just under $3 million, could well end up being a steal.

Not only does it offer 5.2 acres of “exceptionally quiet and private wooded land,” it has also undergone what the listing describes as “exquisite renovations” and a “meticulous transformation” to restore it to its original glory, having previously been left in a crumbling state.

Known as Jackson House, the beautifully restored home dates back to 1883, when it was constructed in its original plot in downtown Greensboro to serve as a home to William Reid Jackson and his family, who owned the property for decades, before it was passed to the First Baptist Church.

According to one of its former owners, Kimberly Bennett, the home had fallen into a state of disrepair by 1988 and was due to be demolished to make way for a more modern property.

Horrified at the thought of their family’s former gem being destroyed, descendants of the Jackson family stepped in to save it—a task that could only be done by moving the property from its original location.

They took on the monumental task of relocating the property (for the first time) to a new development 15 miles away called Reynolds Lake Oconee, transporting the property piece by piece and then rebuilding it at its new location, where it served as a real estate center for nearly 30 years.

However, in 2017, the home had once again descended into a drab state, and the restoration work it required was deemed too expensive.

That’s when Bennett and her husband, Christian, stepped in. As experienced home renovators, they wanted to offer the homeowners a chance to save and restore the property—but once again, that transformation could not be completed until the property had found a new home of its own.

“There was nothing ‘simple’ about the process,” Kimberly explained in a 2022 blog post about the home. “It took over eight months of negotiating a contract to acquire the home and the land where the Jackson House now resides.”

That 5-acre plot, where the home still stands today, was located just 1 mile away, so Kimberly and Christian hired a Pennsylvania-based company to load up the 400-ton house and drive it to its new spot, a process that took “8.5 hours of inching down the road.”

Five years later, the home passed to its current owners, Brian Stewart and wife Amanda.

“It’s not too often that you get to work on a legacy home like this that been part of the community for so long,” Brian told Realtor.com of their decision to take on the home, taking over the project from the Bennetts in June 2022.

“We went through the house in its entirety from bottom to top completing the renovation,” he says, revealing that they added a carriage house, a garage, and a pool to the home.

Their goal was to create a luxurious and cozy space, without destroying any of the property’s most historical elements that were still intact.

“It feels special when you walk in. It feels like a home that you could live in. It doesn’t feel like a scary old abandoned house. It just feels like home,” Amanda says. “As soon as you pull up, you feel like you’re home. It’s not intimidating. It’s not like a scary old-looking farmhouse. It’s just super inviting.”

The Stewarts left many of the home’s original elements in place, including the pine floors, some leaded-glass windows, stair banisters, hardware, lighting fixtures, and more.

“Even some of the old nails that were handmade nails that were used on the walls and some of the floorboards, it’s really cool to see those,” Amanda explains, adding that Brian had wanted to redo the floors entirely, something that she was wholeheartedly against.

“I just thought, ‘I don’t want to touch those floors.’ Look at that tiny little ding right there. That’s probably where someone fell down at one time when they were playing as a kid,” she muses. “Or maybe that little scratch right there is from one of the kids roller skating through the hallways.

“They’re just little tiny things that I think are little treasures that you just don’t find in new homes.”

Both inside and outside, the home is a mix of the new and old.

“I kind of feel [the house is] like my husband and I in general, like with our personalities,” Amanda notes. “He loves all things big and new and clean and very modern, and I like things very antique-y and old and the history of things matter to me.

“Being able to come into this house and kind of incorporate both of the things that we love, I think it’s something that’s really cool and gives this house so much character.”

For the upcoming auction, there is no reserve, but the price listed online is $2,999,999, and the Stewarts acknowledge it was difficult to find comps. It will be an absolute auction with the property being sold to the highest bidder.

“The Jackson House is truly a one-of-a-kind property that seamlessly blends historical significance with modern luxury,” says Randy Haddaway, founder and CEO of Elite Auctions in a media release.

“We’re honored to present this magnificent estate to discerning buyers seeking a unique opportunity to own a piece of Southern history within the prestigious Reynolds Lake Oconee community.”

So why an auction instead of a more traditional listing?

“Because the home is so unique, you really have to get the word out about it. It’s one that you just have to see to appreciate and to understand,” Brian explains, adding the auction company can market it in a broad way.

As well as enjoying the lavish amenities inside the home, the buyer can take advantage of the many luxurious features of the gated community that the home sits in, including a golf course and a lakefront Ritz-Carlton.

“You have 5 acres in a gated community, and then you have the option of deciding if you want to be part of Reynolds and have a membership or if you just want to be here and be on the land,” Amanda says.

It’s also an opportunity to own a piece of the past, adds Brian.

“You are the caretaker of this big piece of history within the community, and with that comes a lot of responsibility at the same time,” he points out. “I think that’s pretty cool, and it’s something that we’ve definitely embraced.”