34 | Winter
•
2009
Fine Living
I
n 1999, Jane Kennedy Clayton saw a house listed by Fayetteville Realtor Bobby
McCoy that she thought had great potential. A Realtor herself, she showed the
house at 230 Hillside Avenue to prospective buyers and even to friends, hoping
someone would buy what she considered a beautiful house.
The more she showed the house, the more she fell in love with it. Her
husband, Robert, a property manager, told her that if the house was such a
great catch, then she ought to show it to him.
When she did, he also saw its potential, and the Claytons decided to buy it. But
before making the final decision, they asked Jane's mother for her opinion. In fact, they
picked her up at the airport on a return flight from Japan and before taking her home,
they dropped by the Hillside Avenue property. Her response, according to Jane, was
what they wanted to hear. "If you can afford it, buy it," she advised.
Robert (Rob) and Jane, both Fayetteville natives, bought the 3,000 square-foot
home previously owned by the Rankin family and given to Methodist University. The
Colonial Revival style house was built in 1933 in an area of Haymount noted for its
array of architecture to include Greek, Federal and Colonial revival.
Above and Right | The former Rankin
home, seen from a curbside view at the
upper right, is an historic Fayetteville
structure. Stone planters, masonry and
garden gates add to the exterior charm of
the home.
RANKIN
HOUSE
230
Hillside Avenue
By Jason Brady
