NCModernist Architecture You Love

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James Belmont
(Jim) Willis, Jr.AIA

(1937–2012)

Willis was born in Morehead City NC and graduated in 1955 from Morehead City HS. He served in the Army for a few years. A 1963 graduate of North Carolina State University with a BA in architecture, he went into business in Fayetteville with Mason Hicks as Hicks and Willis 1965-1967 before going on his own in Morehead City. Following son Matthew, he moved to Laguna Beach CA around 2000, working for two firms in Delmar and Newport Beach then back on his own. Willis had an amazing ability to spontaneously draw in 3D, upside down. His drawings were put in storage in Havelock NC before moving to California. Willis did not recover them and they were thrown away.

James Belmont (Jim) Willis, Jr. James Belmont (Jim) Willis, Jr.
1961

The Barnett House

700 West Third Street, Roanoke Rapids NC

Sold to Mary Barnett. Photo by Lee Hansley.

The Barnett House
1962

The Swindell House

139 Charlie Lewis Lane, Beaufort NC

Sold in 2012 to Abeta Joy D. and Robert T. Norris, Jr.

The Swindell House The Swindell House
Around 1969

The David Freshwater Residence

220 Roanoke Avenue, Morehead City NC

Likely destroyed/remodeled, with new version replacing, bottom photo.

The David Freshwater Residence The David Freshwater Residence
Around 1969

The Dr. Best House

near Sealevel NC

On steel pilings, with a flat roof. Burned down around 2008.

The Dr. Best House
Around 1969

The Dr. Kendall House, a series of buildings in the marsh

near Sealevel NC

Status unknown.

The Dr. Kendall House, a series of buildings in the marsh
1969

The Keith C. and Alice Jean Noble House

109 Pinewood Circle, Pine Knoll Shores, Atlantic Beach NC

Deeded in 2005 to Jean N. Machea, Joanne N. Crawford, and Bruce M. McBride. Available for rent.

The Keith C. and Alice Jean Noble House
1970

The John R. Kardell House

134 Seashore Drive, Sea Level NC

Sold in 1985 to Anise Daugherty. Sold in 2020 to Kay Jordan.

The John R. Kardell House The John R. Kardell House The John R. Kardell House The John R. Kardell House
1970

The James B. and Barbara H. Willis House

5011 Bogue Avenue, Morehead City NC

Features a pyramid roof in the middle. Sold in 1976 to Jerald J. and Bette Jo Pierce. Sold in 1980 to Rose S. and Paul K. Hamlin, Jr. A garage and patio were added in 2006.

The James B. and Barbara H. Willis House
1970s

The Coral Bay Condominiums East

Atlantic Beach NC

These were the first condos at Atlantic Beach. Jim McGrew, project architect.

The Coral Bay Condominiums East
1972

The Harry and Donna T. Gazelle House

115 Pinewood Circle, Pine Knoll Shores, Atlantic Beach NC

Sold in 1997 to John F. and Marian L. Kutzer.

The Harry and Donna T. Gazelle House
Around 1972

The Tar Landing Condos

Atlantic Beach NC

Designed with landscape architect Dick Bell.

The Tar Landing Condos
1973

The Sylvester and Elizabeth Ann Fleming Residence

159 Loblolly Drive, Pine Knoll Shores NC

Project architect, Jim McGrew. Renovated in 1987.

The Sylvester and Elizabeth Ann Fleming Residence
1972

The Jesse Lee (Tony) Seamon, Jr., House

4706 San Juan Circle, Morehead City NC

Project architect, Jim McGrew. Sold in 2004 to Roy L. and Judy A. Howell.

The Jesse Lee (Tony) Seamon, Jr., House The Jesse Lee (Tony) Seamon, Jr., House
1973

The Seal House

202 Oakleaf Drive, Pine Knoll Shores NC

As of 2016 owned by Richard C. Seale, Trustee.

The Seal House
1974

The Arthur E. and Constance M. Browne House

201 Salter Path Road, Pine Knoll Shores NC

Sold in 1987 to Ashley Thomas and Annette E. Joyner. Sold in 1990 to Thomas N. Hobbs. Sold in 1996 to James N. and Diane E. Sarantos and James N. Sarant, Jr. Sold in 2001 to Gregory M. and Janet L. Lattimer. Sold in 2003 to Ronn H. Mayer. Sold in 2005 to Paul Hetzel.

The Arthur E. and Constance M. Browne House The Arthur E. and Constance M. Browne House
1974

The J. Troy and Sally Elmore Smith House

3602 Country Club Road, Trent Woods, New Bern NC

Edgar Carr was the project architect. Sold in 1988 to John D. and Susan H. Lasater. Sold in 2013 to Gary L. and Melissa H. Aldridge.

The J. Troy and Sally Elmore Smith House
Around 1975

The Carmichael House and Boathouse

4907 Trent Woods Drive, Trent Woods NC

Sold in 2007 to author Nicholas Sparks. Destroyed, and a new house built in 2008.

The Carmichael House and Boathouse
1975

The Thomas (Tommy) A. Karam House

5001 Trent Woods Drive, Trent Woods NC

Deeded in 2004 to John R. Karam and Karol Hopkins. Sold in 2015 to Loblolly Greens, LLC. Sold in 2017 to John and Stephanie Ann Zannis. Destroyed in 2017.

The Thomas (Tommy) A. Karam House
1976

The Jerome Moore and Heber Hampton Newsome, Jr., House

199 Salter Path Road, Pine Knoll Shores NC

Deeded in 2017 to H. Hampton Newsome, III, Janie N. Corina, and Britt B. Newsome.

The Jerome Moore and Heber Hampton Newsome, Jr., House The Jerome Moore and Heber Hampton Newsome, Jr., House
Around 1977

The Broad Creek Middle School, Hwy 24

near Swansboro NC

Other schools included Morehead Middle School, Newport Elementary School, Sherwood Park Elementary School, the Ocracoke School.

The Broad Creek Middle School, Hwy 24 The Broad Creek Middle School, Hwy 24
Around 1978

Charlie Bennett's 8.5 Marina Village

sound side of Atlantic Beach NC

Designed with Dick Bell and architect Ligon Flynn. Built with modular mobile homes.

Charlie Bennett's 8.5 Marina Village Charlie Bennett's 8.5 Marina Village
1985

The Terrence L. and Helen C. Goodman House

558 Seashore Drive, Atlantic NC

Sold in 1988 to Peter T. and Suzanne E. Osburn. Sold in 1999 to Charles L. Snipes, III.

The Terrence L. and Helen C. Goodman House
1985

The Charlotte M. and George M. Oliver, Jr., House

5206 Holly Court, Morehead City NC

Deeded in 2004 to Charlotte Mason Oliver. Sold in 2007 to Jeffery A. Passot. Sold later in 2007 to Kenneth R. and Julie Ash. Sold in 2016 to The Kinvestment Group, Inc. Has been renovated.

The Charlotte M. and George M. Oliver, Jr., House The Charlotte M. and George M. Oliver, Jr., House The Charlotte M. and George M. Oliver, Jr., House The Charlotte M. and George M. Oliver, Jr., House The Charlotte M. and George M. Oliver, Jr., House The Charlotte M. and George M. Oliver, Jr., House
1985

The Virginia White Little House

1408 Patterson Street, Morehead City NC

Sold in 2000 to K&V Little, LLC. Sold in 2013 to Daniel W. and Molly W. Russell. Destroyed in 2014. New house built in 2015, bottom photo.

The Virginia White Little House The Virginia White Little House The Virginia White Little House The Virginia White Little House
1987

The Jan Willis Renovation

4919 Holly Lane, Morehead City NC

Original house built in 1940. Sold in 1996 to Alice J. and George G. Alexander. Sold in 2016 to Lori and Robert C. Sanborn III.

The Jan Willis Renovation The Jan Willis Renovation
1987

The George J. Boslet House

319 Channel Drive, Emerald Isle NC

Deeded in 2003 to Boslet heirs. Sold in 2004 to Annita and Henry M. Best, III.

The George J. Boslet House
1991

The Carolyn S. and Franklin P. Guthrie, Jr., House

599 Forest Dunes Drive, Pine Knoll Shores NC

Sold in 2007 to Gwynne and Daniel R. Taylor, Jr.

The Carolyn S. and Franklin P. Guthrie, Jr., House
1997

The Charles B. and Margaret D. Tulevech House

123 Core Drive West, Morehead City NC

Sold in 2013 to Frank H. and Frances D. Gainey. Addition built in 2016.

The Charles B. and Margaret D. Tulevech House The Charles B. and Margaret D. Tulevech House
Year unknown

The David Byrd Residence

Cedar Island NC

The David Byrd Residence
Year unknown

The Harold Talton Party House

New Bern NC

Airport side of Neuse River. Jim Dugan worked on the project.

The Harold Talton Party House
Year unknown

The Gib Arthur Party House

Morehead City NC

The Gib Arthur Party House

Sources include: Son Pug Willis; Jim Dugan; Edgar Carr; son Matthew Willis; Dick Bell.