2715 Rosedale, Home of Sallie Ricks

My Rosedale home is a mid-century house designed by Milton Small, Jr. FAIA (1916-1992) and it is a contributing structure in the West Raleigh Historic District.  The interior is simple, with lots of built-in storage and wide expanses of glass.  I appreciate the open design and realize the positive ways it influences me.  Looking out the windows into the woods in the back and the flowers in the front can bring peace at the end of a hectic day!  The front yard garden and house are mostly hidden from the street by a tall evergreen hedge which gives me privacy and an added sense of being close to nature.

The house, built in 1953 for the Donald and Marion Anderson Family, appears modest from the front but from the back, is so stately as it stands up to the woods.  There is a little path leading down to the creek where wild deciduous azaleas and pitcher plants grow nearby.  When I first moved here, about 30 years ago, I loved to garden.  Now, I reap the benefits of an old garden gone wild, like me, but there’s always something blooming to entertain no matter what time of year.

I have done some interior renovation to my home, but feel it’s my responsibility to maintain this historic house close to the original design and to protect it.  I hope when I leave, the next residents feel the same way about it.  You can see pictures of the house when brand new and read more about Milton Small at “http://www.ncmodernist.org/small.htm”  (Scroll down midway.)

I have enjoyed living in University Park and working many years at NC State University.  What a luxury to be able to walk to work through our neighborhood!  Now I am retired and still walk a wide loop through the neighborhood for exercise, and enjoy the diversity of sites along the way: Cameron Village, the post office, the Players Retreat, the new development, the University edge, Hillsborough St. hangouts and many charming residences.  Planners and designers try to emulate what we already have in our neighborhood and I am so happy to live in University Park!

(Interested in helping UPHA with the Home of the Month? We’d love to hear from you if you want to join the team – contact prcarter@mindspring.com -)