1623 Bahama Road, 10.26.08
Dr. Euel Lyon and his wife Maynie built this house next to the Mt. Bethel Methodist Church around 1918. Dr. Lyon had a successful practice that afforded a gracious two-story house with a wide wrap-around porch. The doctor ordered all the latest conveniences: the Lyon House was the first house in Bahama to be built with an indoor bathroom! Mrs. Lyon remarried after her husband's death in 1924, and remained in the house until the death of her second husband David Roberts in 1937. She moved into Durham in 1938.
The house is a classic four-square topped by a pyramidal roof with attic dormers. The exposed beams under the roof are rough hewn; some still have bark on them.
The side entry hall features a stairwell with the original newel posts and banisters, now uncovered from more than a dozen layers of paint. The paneling hiding the stair risers is of particular note. Other original woodwork remains throughout the house, including horizontally paneled doors with ceramic knobs, windows, and fireplace mantles. Original lighting fixtures also remain, as well as a triple push button switch in the front hall. The style of the ceiling fixtures here is similar to those in the Marcus Mangum house around the corner: both houses were wired for electricity in the mid-1920s. Modern wallboard painted in bright colors covers original bead board paneling that was badly stained by tacks used to hold the underpinnings of early wallpaper.
The wide front porch wraps around the right side of the house, where a door admitted patients directly into Dr. Lyon's office. Today, the homeowner uses the room as a convenient home office.
Upstairs are three bedrooms. In the master bedroom, the mantle of the long-closed fireplace is now used as a dramatic headboard for the bed. An original closet extends back behind the chimney for truly deep storage. In the baby's room, the homeowners commissioned a local artist to paint a colorful mural. From the door to the enclosed attic stairway, visitors can see the beam construction of the roof. [by Jan Hessling]
Comments
Submitted by Tina55 on Fri, 8/14/2026 - 10:46am
The Lyons-Ellis home was purchased by my Grandfather Otha Ellis after the Lyons in the 1950's. My Grandparents Otha and Gracie Ellis lived in the home until her passing in 1988. I came to this home many times as a child and sat on the front porch swing, played ball in the beautiful front yard and picked vegetables in their huge garden. My sister and I played upstairs and have many memories of this home. We spent many holidays in the home and have so many photos to cherish my wonderful grandparents. We have original photos of the home prior to the restoration. The restoration of the home is beautiful. This is the first home my mother grew up in at the age of 3. She spoke of the stairs she would climb when she first moved in. She spoke of the grate that is in the upstairs floor and from the original wood stove in the living room the heat wood rise through the grate to heat the room upstairs. This home has a piece of my heart because it was full of love and so many memories for me as a child. My grandparents Otha and Gracie Ellis took pride and care in this beautiful home.
Submitted by Tina55 on Tue, 8/18/2026 - 12:14pm
My grandparents Otha and Gracie Ellis purchased this home in theb1950's and it was in the family for forty years. The home was sold when Gracie Ellis passed in March of 1988. This home was beautiful and held so many family memories through the years. I came to this home when I was first born and throughout my years. My mom and her 3 sisters lived in this home. My mom was 3 years old when she moved here and told many stories of the home growing up. The home is still beautiful as it has been upgraded.
Add new comment
Log in or register to post comments.