240 Pearson Dr.

Jennifer & Mark Kiiss

This distinctive estate-sized bungalow was designed by noted architect William Henry Lord (1864–1933) and completed in 1907. A 1912 Asheville Citizens Times article recognized Lord as one of the city’s best-known architects, noting that since his arrival in Asheville in 1900 he had been “actively involved with the phenomenal growth and progress of the city.” Encouraged to relocate by fellow architect Richard Sharp Smith, Lord ultimately built his own residence at 267 Flint Street.

 For Dr. Marion C. Millender (1859–1963)—a UNC Medical School graduate and respected local physician—Lord designed the handsome 2½-story asymmetrical shingle-style vernacular home at 240 Pearson Drive. Dr. Millender, celebrated as a “beloved physician,” famously marked his 104th birthday at this residence on April 13, 1963.

 In 1969, the Buncombe Baptist Association obtained an option to evaluate the property as a potential “home for unwed mothers,” responding to what the Baptist Press described as a growing need for this ministry. The large home eventually housed up to 36 women per year. Later, until its purchase in 2018, the property served as a boarding house, with multiple tenants sharing common spaces.

The 4,900-square-foot residence features pebbledash stucco and shingles over stucco, resting on a stone foundation accented with finely crafted stone details. From 2018 to 2020, the Kiiss family completed a full restoration and modernization of the property. They meticulously preserved the home’s exceptional original elements, including rich woodwork in the arches, banisters, and moldings; ornate fireplaces with bronze covers; and the original hardwood floors.

Today, a swimming pool enhances the expansive grounds, complemented by the carriage house, which was sensitively repurposed in 2025.