Historic house demolished

A historic Zebulon home was demolished on Highway 19 Tuesday morning. The century-old home was bought by Flash Foods and the company acquired a permit to demolish the building from the city of Zebulon.Rumors about the building’s demolition and Flash Foods’ expansion have included speculation a fast food restaurant will be part of the new store, but Flash Foods representatives say there are no plans in the near future to rebuild on the building’s lot. The purchase of the property would allow for easier access to the gas station from the northbound and southbound lanes of Highway 19. Over the years, the home has been expanded significantly from the original structure built around 1910. A few Zebulon residents still remember the home’s original state, including Ellen Means Spinks whose grandparents lived next door – John Corley who was Pike County’s tax collector in the 1930s and his wife Minnie Barrett Corley. ’I remember the house from when I was a little girl. Originally, it was only a one story house with an attic. It had a porch that went across part of the house,’ she said. ‘The history book says the home was known as the Carter House and was owned by Cliff Carter at one time. A lot of different families have lived there. I was a little tiny girl when my grandparents on my father’s side, John Morris Means and Estelle Holsey Means, were killed in an automobile accident. We were visiting the Whatley family at that house when my father came down to tell us about the accident.’The Pike County Journal Reporter will provide updated information about future plans for the property as soon as they become available.