For better than five decades the Temple family occupied the dwelling; they were followed by architect Dick Patterson and his family, who lived there until 1962 when Mr. and Mrs. Harry Scearce moved in. The Scearces have always had a penchant for old furniture and for 25 years have collected antiques in their travels, refinishing all of them themselves. 

Today, when one speaks of the Scearce home one often hears: “Is that the home with the large front porch, the old wicker furniture and the beautiful plants?” All those items mark 138 Broad Street, along with the cathedral windows, high ceilings, and the original flooring and’ woodwork throughout the house. 

On entering the house one passes a deacon’s bench from an old North Carolina church on the front porch, and in the entrance hail a Sugar Leg Oak table and a Pier mirror. But the living room and dining room contain what Mr. Scearce refers to as his favorite pieces, an organ and an old clock. Both items are 150 years old and were bought by Mr. Scearce in a box in a junk yard. He reassembled the pieces and refinished the completed products. The piano stands in the living room with the antique organ. On the mantle are bisque busts and Italian porcelain. In addition to items collected by the Scearces, the living room has several family pieces. The lamps on either end of the sofa are Italian hand-painted porcelain and brass. 

The old clock mentioned earlier is found in the dining room along with a five trumpet epergne and crystal hurricane candlesticks on the dining room table. There are representative pieces from the cut glass collection of Miss Grace Bagley. Of particular interest is a beautiful Cut glass punch bowl and cups, which rest beside a miniature punchbowl and cups. Ornamenting the setting is the antique chandelier which fairly hovers over the center of the room. 

Passing through the family room, which was added in the 1920s by Mrs. Temple, one sees an old walnut and walnut root secretary along with other antiques including an 80-year-old victrola. The partially finished afghan is one Mrs. Scearce is making and is one of 46 she has completed in the past five years. 

Designed and installed in the 1950’s by Dick Patterson, the kitchen, futuristic then, is modern and efficient today. One should note the completely installed grill as part of the kitchen. Typical of older houses, there are steps leading to the upstairs from the kitchen also. 

As one moves from the house into the rear grounds, one finds a patio and formal garden with hand-laid brick walks, a bird pool and fountain. The foliage is composed of Magnolia, white and pink Dogwood and accented by all colors of Azaleas.

The Scearce home has ten rooms and five baths, with all of the bedrooms upstairs. The master bedroom and bath features an old brass bed and a Victorian chest, made of solid walnut, that has unique locks. In addition there is a Teakwood clock and a wardrobe from the Bagley collection. 

Mrs. Scearce’s bedroom is highlighted by a solid walnut bed and dresser, and a trunk adorned with blue metal. 

In the guest room the furnishings are of walnut and chestnut. Also Page 2 
there is a red mahogany chest. The plates in the guest room were painted by Mrs. Scearce. One should also note the gold leaf mantle and the Venetian mirror. 

In what Mrs. Scearce refers to as the Red Room, there is a white iron bed with brass finials, a medallion washstand and two old ladderback chairs. 

The fifth bedroom is known to the Scearces as the Oak or Green Room and contains a suite of oak furniture all made at the same time from solid oak and a most unusual oak washstand. On the washstand is a porcelain toothbrush holder and soap dish that belonged to Mrs. Scearce’s mother. 

With their numerous antiques and pieces collected from widespread travels, the Scearces have brought together in their home elements of some of the most diverse cultures on the globe and united them with the best of the English heritage.