Saving a Piece of American History: The Grigsby House

My name is Jackie, and I’m asking for your help in saving a piece of American history before it disappears forever. The Grigsby House, a cornerstone of Holly Springs, NC heritage, is in danger of being demolished. The current owner is primarily focused on selling the property quickly and is open to any outcome- whether that means restoration or demolition. If demolition approval is granted, this irreplaceable landmark will almost certainly be lost.

Built in 1900, the Grigsby House stood as more than just a family home—it was a foothold of dignity and progress for African Americans in the segregated South. Its owners, George Talmadge Grigsby and his wife, Gladys Stinson Grigsby, rose to prominence not through wealth or privilege, but through education, service, and faith. At a time when segregation barred Black families from equal schools, resources, and opportunities, Dr. Grigsby dedicated his career to educating the next generation, while Gladys became a respected teacher and church leader whose influence reached across Holly Springs and beyond. Their home became a symbol of what perseverance could achieve in the face of inequality.

For a deeper historical dive click here: https://hollysprings.suburbanlivingmag.com/pack-house-pride/

…and here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/6adf59c7ab6f497984e3bd30d693b944

To lose the Grigsby House today would mean more than tearing down a neglected building. It would mean erasing one of the few surviving physical links to the story of Black resilience in the Jim Crow South. Across the country, homes like this—built, lived in, and loved by families who fought for dignity in the face of oppression—are being bulldozed in the name of progress. Each demolition is another page ripped from our shared American history. Saving the Grigsby House is not just about preserving one family’s legacy; it is about honoring the generations who fought quietly, in their classrooms, churches, and homes, to carve out a future where their children could thrive.

Holly Springs is at a crossroads. The town is expanding rapidly, and with every new build, another fragment of its past is erased. The few historic homes that survive stand like sentinels of memory, but they are under constant threat from developers. Once demolished, they can never be rebuilt and with them go the stories of the families who lived within their walls. Preserving the Grigsby House is not just about saving an old building; it is about safeguarding culture, memory, and the very soul of a community before it is paved over and forgotten.

I moved to central North Carolina four years ago and immediately fell in love with the area’s historic character. Living in the same neighborhood as the Grigsby House, I drive by it every day and can’t help but imagine the lives it has witnessed and the community it helped shape. Seeing it sit empty and at risk is heartbreaking because this house has so much to give if it’s allowed to live on. Once restored, I plan to open it to the public, at minimum, once every year and host a fundraiser, with all proceeds dedicated to saving other historic homes and buildings in the area. This project is about more than one house—it’s about honoring the people who came before us.

The house is currently listed at $595,000, and restoration will require an additional $205,000 to begin. That’s why we’re asking for your help in raising $800,000. While we will be investing as much of our own resources and labor as possible, we cannot do this alone. The house must be purchased in cash and historic restoration is specialized work. Every contribution brings us closer to protecting this treasure for future generations.

This isn’t just a restoration, it’s a chance to bring history back to life, and we want you to be part of it. Every step of the process will be documented, so anyone who contributes can witness the transformation firsthand: peeling back layers of paint and time, uncovering the stories hidden within its walls, and breathing new life into a home that has stood for over a century. But none of this can happen without your support. The Grigsby House can only be saved if we raise the necessary funds to purchase and begin restoration. Every donation, big or small, brings us closer to preserving this irreplaceable piece of history and keeping its story alive.

If you are passionate about history, community, architecture, or simply the idea of preserving something beautiful and meaningful in a world where so much is disposable, I invite you to join us. Together, we can save the Grigsby House. Together, we can honor the past while giving it new life for generations to come.

***Should the house sell or be demolished before we are able to raise sufficient funds for this endeavor, all donations will be returned in full. Donations will not be utilized for any other purpose under any circumstances.***