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FSBO. For Sale by Owner. Why would I put a FSBO on my blog? 601 East Race is a historic home.

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

When I stopped at Sexton's Grocery Store I couldn't help admiring.....again....this old house at 601 East Race.  It is becoming somewhat bedraggled but the lines are so nice.  It also has a FSBO sign in the yard so it is up for bids and someone may think the spot is great for a business and then the house will just be "what-used-to-be" on East Race.

Historic 601 E race

The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 and the courthouse says it was built in 1925.  It was called the William H. Lightle house but I have always known it as the Dr. Biggs house.  Perhaps a Sleuth can clear this up for me.

I like the curved window detail. And I like the way the windows go all the way to the floor.  In fact, the windows are larger than the door! 

Detail 601 E Race 

Here's an older picture of it and I wish we had one even older.601 E Race

Perhaps someone will buy and restore and that would be great for historic Searcy.  That's why I have a FSBO on this blog.

Show All Comments
Luke Jones
Garver - Little Rock, AR

Barbara, I can speak to the present status of the brick Lightle house. Paul and Jolie Love (the latter is a French teacher at Harding) live there and rent out the basement to some friends of mine.

Sep 26, 2011 02:51 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Luke, thanks for the info.  But more is needed.  Does the owner NOT live there?  Does owner just rent out for special events like class reunions, weddings, etc.?  Or perhaps the Loves are the owners?  Sorry....I'm just a curious type person.

Sep 28, 2011 02:01 PM
Anonymous
Anita Fuller

I found a picture of the Richard Deener house on Center Street to compare with the Lightle/Biggs house.  While not exactly alike, very similar. Billy still hasn't told us about the inside of the Biggs' house.

Sep 29, 2011 02:06 AM
#13
Anonymous
Billy Fuller

Anita, I have never been in that house.  Just always saw it from the street and knew that's where Lee (the son) lived with his family.  Lee now lives in Searcy again...wonder why he doesn't buy it and restore it.

Sep 29, 2011 02:45 AM
#14
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Anita, send me the picture and I will post it.

Billy, isn't Anita demanding?  Perhaps if Lee reads this he can supply some history. 

Sep 29, 2011 03:19 AM
Anonymous
Angela Shaw

The Loves own and live in the red brick Lightle house. While living there they had continued to use it as a bed and breakfast until the last couple of years when they began renting out rooms and providing meals for Harding students. They host many receptions, etc. Because Paul and Jolie have lived abroad and traveled extensively, their home always has an air of class and culture. They are delightful hosts!

Sep 29, 2011 03:26 AM
#16
Luke Jones
Garver - Little Rock, AR

I think the Loves just use it as a private residence. I know they once operated a bed and breakfast out of it, but haven't now for a while.

EDIT: Looks like Angela beat me to the punch. :)

Sep 29, 2011 03:26 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Angela, I went there for a class reunion several years ago and it was a great place then.

Luke, you are seldom beaten to the punch!

Sep 29, 2011 01:49 PM
Anonymous
Anita Fuller

Barbara:  just google   Richard Deener house......several will come up.  You have done blogs about it before.....it is now a kindergarten/day care center, remember?      or Don:  go to Google map and send Barbara a pic.

Sep 30, 2011 01:44 AM
#20
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Anita, I can't see how they are similar?  My glasses may need cleaning. Ok, I'll go find the picture and it really did just pop right up in Google!!

Sep 30, 2011 03:21 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Deener houseThis is the house Anita is talking about.

Sep 30, 2011 03:27 AM
Anonymous
Anita Fuller

Thanks, for putting the houses on the same page for my comparison.  Obviously the Deener house is larger, but the Lightle/Biggs house still reminds me of a smaller version of it. 

Sep 30, 2011 11:37 AM
#23
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

You are welcome, Anita.

Sep 30, 2011 01:48 PM
Anonymous
Lee Biggs
Barbara: Here is a first-hand update for you. The white house at 601 E. Race with the FSBO sign was built by W.H. Lightle in 1882. He was married to Anna Burnett Snipes Lightle, and they had 4 children, namely Minnie Hicks Lightle Biggs b. 1778 (my grandmother), James Edward Lightle, Sr. b. 1880 (Alice Lightle's grandfather), Elizabeth Key Lightle Davis b. 1882 (no children), and Julian Burnett Lightle, Sr. b. 1884 (Burney & Steve Lightle's grandfather). The 2 story red brick house with basement and attic just east of the W.H. Lightle white house was built in the 1920's by James Edward Lightle, Sr. on land inherited from his father. Julian Burnett Lightle, Sr. built a home on land across the street where Sexton Food store is now. My grandmother married Lee Biggs, Sr. and lived in Memphis until her death in 1958. My great aunt, Elizabeth Key Lightle Davis, inherited the W.H. Lightle white house and lived there until her husband died and then moved to Memphis and lived with her sister until her sister's death in 1958. After she moved to Memphis, the W.H. Lightle white house was rented out for 15 or so years and then my father, Lee Biggs, the optometrist, bought the house from his aunt and remodeled it in 1953. Upon the death of her sister, Minnie, in 1958, Elizabeth Lightle Davis returned to Searcy and resided in an apartment at the Mayfair Hotel until her death in 1973. In my youth, I lived in the white house 16 years and later on as an adult, I lived there another 17 years until I sold it in 1997. I believe it has changed hands 3 or 4 times since I sold it, & I don't think it has been occupied for the past 6 to 8 years and regrettably has fallen into a sad state of decay. As a child growing up on Race Street, I remember it being lined on both sides with beautiful well kept homes with giant oak trees in all the yards with their branches extending over the street almost forming a canopy in places. It was a beautiful sight to behold.
Oct 17, 2011 09:17 PM
#25
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Lee, thank you for that excellent history of the house at 601 E Race which was your home.  You notice the Sleuths want you to go back in, restore, and give it a new life!  I think you'd have to grow up in Searcy to remember all the Lightles and their relationships.  I came in 1967 and seem to remember a lovely older lady who lived at the Mayfair.  I do also remember your old house being perhaps a home for people who needed a home....sorta like Harding Place now provides?

It does still appear lovely and everyone will hate having it torn down for commercial usage.  It might make a great attorney's office!!

Oct 18, 2011 01:18 AM
Anonymous
Lee Biggs
Barbara, guess there must be a season for everything, and I'm afraid the season for that old house is destined to become a part of Searcy history. It was a good ride - nearly 130 years. I also noticed when driving down Race Street recently, the old Magnolia tree in the front yard, planted from a seed by my grandmother in the same year the house was built - when she was 4 years old - is dying. I have really enjoyed surfing around your blog this last year or so seeing the photos of events and places out of the past & reading what your "sleuths" have to say. Keep up the good work.
Oct 18, 2011 05:32 PM
#27
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Lee, thanks.  We really want to consider your being a sleuth also.  You know a lot about this town.  How interesting that the Magnolia is giving up life and the house may also be coming to an end.  Your comment about having a season for everything sums it up nicely.  If you have pictures share them with us.

 

Oct 19, 2011 07:34 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Lee, the court house gives the date of the house as 1925 and the owner is Guy Biggs so it must still be in your family.  The court house records must not go too far back if it was built in 1882. 

Oct 19, 2011 07:42 AM
Anonymous
Lee Biggs
Barbara: Below is the summary listing found on the National Register of Historic Places for the house at 601 E. Race. Construction was begun in 1881 but the house was not completed until early 1882. My great aunt, Elizabeth Key Lightle Davis was born in the house on 3/11/1882. It was in my family until 1997, and after I sold it that year, it has had 3 owners that I'm aware of: Bubbus, Dalrymple, Thomas - and now it appears my brother, Guy, is buying it, however I don't believe it has been occupied since the Victory Place folks rented it to use as an adult daycare center for a couple of years. The 1925 reference at the courthouse that you speak of must be referring to the brick house next door (605 E. Race) that was built in 1923 by Ed Lightle, Sr., the father of the Ed Lightle you knew. It was built a couple of years after the Tom Watkins house on the northeast corner of Race & Oak. The same Little Rock architect drew the plans for both of those houses. There are 3 or 4 other Lightle properties in Searcy that are listed on the Register of Historic Places, so it's possible the 1925 reference could have applied to one of them. Next time I'm over at the courthouse with a little time to kill, I'll take a look at the deed records for 1925. Do you remember what you were looking at over at the courthouse? NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES William H. Lightle House   William H. Lightle House (Searcy - White County) 601 E. Race 1881 house with Italianate detailes Listed in National Register of Historic Places on 9/5/1991.
Nov 01, 2011 05:53 PM
#30
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Lee, I am able to get the assessor's info on property on line because we subscribe to the service.  It costs us per minute while we search the properties but is an invaluable tool for REALTORS.  I just pulled up your old house and accessed the information used for tax purposes.  Inside the courthouse records they have all their old cards that would give older information but I never go down to search those anymore.  There were a lot of Lightle houses!!  Thanks for the additional information.

Nov 02, 2011 11:05 AM
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