Constructed around 1867 by Elijah Simerly, the Butler House, located at 107 Main Street in Hampton, is perhaps the biggest slice of history the community boasts. In 1998, Harold Matheson, owner of Matheson Tools in Stoney Creek, became the fifth owner of the home and is in the process of restoring the structure to its original form.
  "We have finished the outside of the house and the first floor. We are still working on the second floor, sanding floors and removing wallpaper and other work. The house still contains the original furniture from the 18th century," Matheson said. "Much of it is from Germany."
  The exterior walls of the home are 18 inches thick and the interior walls 12 inches. The home has 10 fireplaces and 20 rooms, and brick used to build the structure was made on site by Simerly and those who assisted him.
  "After we finish restoring it, we figure it will be worth approximately $900,000," Matheson said. Matheson said he will have spent approximately $600,000 restoring the house.
  Elijah Simerly was a pioneer of the community which bears the maiden name of his wife, Mary Hampton. Simerly designed plans for Hampton and named many of the streets.
  The Simerlys had 13 children, and Elijah was an investor in the ET&WNC Railroad. He also served as a state legislator from 1865 to 1867 and as president of ET&WNC Railroad from 1867-1871.
  Following the Simerlys, Mr. A.H. Robinson bought the home in 1907. From Nashville, Robinson added the modern conveniences of indoor plumbing and electricity which were unique at that time to most homes in the community. To this day, the original "knob and tube" system operates ceiling lights in the home.
  In 1910, Robinson sold the home to Nat B. Harris, former governor of Georgia, and his wife, Hattie. The couple used the house as a summer home, and Hattie Harris was a native of Elizabethton. Nat Harris was also the founder of Georgia Technical University.
  In 1939, Ralph and Marguerite Butler purchased the Simerly-Harris house after moving to Hampton from Virginia in 1936 so that Ralph Butler could operate the Cedar Hill manganese mine. Marguerite was a native of Shenandoah, Va.
  Ralph Butler operated the tunnel mine from 1936-1939. He also operated manganese mines in Shady Valley, Tenn., and, later, mines in Western North Carolina.
  Marguerite Butler was a registered nurse who graduated from the University of Virginia and did private duty and relief work in local hospitals. She was an active member of the Elizabethton Woman's Club, Hampton Garden Club, and also served on several boards including the library board and the Red Cross. She was also a charter member of the Carter County Hospital Auxiliary.
  The house remained in the Butler family until Matheson bought the home from Jane Butler.
  The home has been used for many special occasions, including the Daughters of the American Revolution 50th anniversary in 1961. The Butlers celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1970 with 200 guests attending.
  Matheson said one of the most fascinating features of the home is a widow's walk which is typically found on coastal homes so that wives could watch their husbands come home from sea and begin preparing dinner.
  "I hear Mr. Butler used it to look out over his land and keep watch over his cattle," Matheson said.
  Matheson said he plans to preserve the history of the home, which is registered with the Watauga Historical Society.