home of distinction
Everything in the Bakers’ den tells its own story, from the framed charcoal drawing
— created by grandmother Julia Estelle Westbrook English — to the castaway twig
bentwood rocker, to the homage to the Old North State, this room adjoins the
kitchen and a rear deck built around a dogwood tree.
“He was a nurseryman. He came
as a man who grew up on the land.
He and his brothers all farmed. He
was a big strawberry grower. They all
were farmers.”
Estelle’s father was a local merchant
who owned a grocery store, J.
B. Flowers and Son.
“It was basically a general store
back in the day and it was right
downtown Mount Olive,” Estelle
says.
Today her home is filled with
antiques and family heirlooms from
the Mount Olive home place, the
store and more.
“Everything means something to
us,” Estelle explains. “There’s no pretense
about this house.”
Beginning with grandmother Julia
Estelle Westbrook English, four
wedding invitations framed under
one mat hang on the wall of Estelle
and Johnnie’s master bedroom. The
name Estelle is engraved on each of
them: Hettie Estelle English Flowers,
“This Little Light of Mine,” one of Estelle’s favorite tunes, is lettered on chalk board planks in a
granddaughters’ bedroom. Her grandmother’s flowered tablecloths are draped at the foot of each
bed. Opposite, an antique baby cradle bought for $15 in 1966 is tucked into the corner of a second
floor guest room. The pillow cover was Estelle’s Brownie project, now stuffed and ready for bed.
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WBM july 2011