Date: 1872
1101 Olive Chapel Road, Apex
Easement Acquired 8/31/1999
Apex Historic Landmark
The Maynard-Pearson House was constructed c.1872 by Mr. James Jackson Maynard and his wife, Civil Pearson Maynard, on land given to Civil by her father’s will. The house is an excellent example of a triple-A roofed I-house, a common house type typical of the period in rural Wake County. The house retains much of its original exterior fabric, including prominent exterior-end brick chimneys, six-over-six sash windows, a Victorian front door with sidelights, and molded corner pilasters with capitals. The front gable is ornamented with a vent, simple sawnwork, and a finial at its peak. The original front porch had been replaced at some point, and the current front porch is a reconstruction of the original, based on older photographs showing the original front porch. The family added onto the rear of the house over the years, expanding to meet their needs. The house remained in the Maynard-Pearson family until the sale in 1994 to M.J.K. Development. The Apex Historical Society, concerned about the survival of the house, raised money, in part with a loan from CAP, to purchase the house in 1995 and complete its restoration in 1996. The house is now owned by the Maynard-Pearson House Trust, a 501c3 nonprofit entity, and serves as the home of the Apex Historical Society. It is being used as a museum of rural living in the past, hosts educational tours with historic emphasis and serves as an example of restoration and preservation.