Dr. Henry A. Wiseman, Jr., completed this stuccoed, English-cottage-style house for his bride on the eve of the First World War.  The row of large boxwood bordering the front yard actually leads to the site of an earlier family home – built in 1870 – where Dr. Wiseman was horn, and which stood somewhat behind the setback of the present house.  In fact, three successive generations named Henry A. Wiseman – each associated with the medical profession – lived either in the earlier or the present house on the property, which once comprised an acre.  That acreage was reduced substantially after 1901, when the elder Wiseman sold the right side yard for Mr. E. G. Moseley to build his house at 840 Main which, judging from old maps, virtually hugged the old Wiseman homeplace.

Following a century of ownership by the Wiseman family from – 1869 to 1969 in two successive houses – the property served as headquarters for the Danville area chapter of the American Red Cross for over three decades. In 2002, the house began its long journey back from years of institutional use when the first owner-occupants in many years, Pam Gray and Mike Sampson—both skilled at old house rejuvenation—turned their attention to this diamond in the rough and reclaimed it for their home.

The next, and current, owners have continued the transformation, working to recapture the charm of the old Wiseman house, built from plans by the architect J. Bryant Heard.  Since their 2006 relocation to Danville for Mr. Holloway's job with LunaNanoWorks, the couple has re-hung shutters original to the windows on a newly repainted, cheerful façade.  Inside, they are fine-tuning the renovation initiated five years ago, adding their personal stamp to the 90-year-old Wiseman house.