The Nags Head Beach Cottage Row Historic District was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The first of the 36 homes began construction in the mid 1800's. Most homes began as shacks, built from wood scavenged from the beachfront, leftover from shipwrecks. Since that time though, most of the homes have undergone major renovations. These historic cottages are now defined by rustic cypress shingles, pitched roofs, and angular wrap-around porches. Each cottage has its own character and story. Sun Realty's "Dune Swale" can be found along this row of historic Outer Banks homes. Read on to learn more about the unique history of this home.
Located at 4115 South Virginia Dare Trail, the McMullan-Scott Cottage (Dune Swale) is a one and one-half story four bay house built in 1927-28 by S.J. Twine for the wife of Percy McMullan of Elizabeth City.
Although this home has the propped shutters and protruding benches of typical Nags Head style, at the request of Flora McMullan it does not share some of the other similar characteristics.
The upstairs bedrooms are built in a circle with access from room to room through a series of doors. The house originally had two staircases, with one leading to the kitchen. The staircase in the kitchen was rendered inoperable with renovations but is still visible inside the pantry.
The McMullan-Scott Cottage has seen many owners throughout the years. The McMullan's owned it until 1945, when it was passed to the Scott family. The Scott family sold it to their neighbor Jackman Vodrey in 1986, who then sold it one year later to John Williams of Rocky Mount. Williams sold it in 1988 to the Parker family of Burlington, who kept it until 2000 when the current owners Jeffrey and Jacqueline Greene of Weldon, NC purchased the home.
The home has received renovations but construction has been meticulous in an attempt to keep the home as historically accurate as possible. All the doors are solid wood with porcelain or glass knobs.
As with many historic homes, visitor's to the home have said it is haunted. Visitors have reported hearing the sounds of people walking on the plank pine floors and doors opening and shutting. The current owners attribute the sounds only to the winds of the Atlantic and the shifting sands the home occupies.