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The Hilltop House is a fine dining restaurant located in an elegant home from the early 1900’s and is situated in the historic Haymount district of Fayetteville. It has a rich and varied history.
On March 14, 1910, Augustus Hiram Kelly and Duncan Ray Kelly purchased a parcel of land in the country on the Old Plank Road. The two brothers were the sons of Andrew and Parthenia Burns Kelly who had settled in the area between Cameron and Carthage. The family originally came from the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
The brothers built the house that can still be seen today. Over time, many changes have been made, but the house is essentially the same building that has stood for almost 100 years - a frame house of two stories built in the Georgian tradition with many features popular in the period, such as bay windows, stained-glass windows, gabled roof, machine-made balusters and ornamentations.
The Original House
The house circa. 1985
D.R.Kelly
on a
company advertisement
In 1912, D.R. Kelly purchased his brothers interest in the house, and he and his wife re-modeled. The family was prospering from their business “The Kelly Suspender Company”, and many additions and improvements were made at this time. The original full porch on the front was replaced with a smaller version, and another porch was added on the side. Clif E. Rankin, a local craftsman, made the fluted Doric columns that grace the porches. The mahogany door holding oval beveled glass and beveled sidelights still grace the front entrance as they have since they were added in 1912.
After entering the house at the front, there is a central hallway with a lovely staircase with mahogany rail and machine-turned balusters leading to the second story. There are oak hardwood floors throughout the house with a most unusual feature. Next to the outside perimeter of the floor is a double inlaid strip of contrasting mahogany, terminating in a Greek key design in each corner. The original dining room features a Tiffany bay window and a Tiffany tile fireplace.
Back in 1985 the house was no longer a residence and was being used as an antique shop. Newton’s Antiques subsequently closed, and the house was re-modeled as a restaurant. The present owner, Mrs Beth Shearin-Smith, took over the restaurant in 2006, and since then has presided over the re-decoration of the rooms. The result is the timeless modern classic setting that can be enjoyed today.
