The historic Hillyer Home on Coral Avenue gutted by a 2005 fire nears complete renovation.

♦ The HPC praises the detail put into the work on the house built in 1890.

A historic house on Coral Avenue, left a burned out shell after a 2005 fire, is near the end of a complete renovation.

Colyn White and his father, Shawn White, have spent the past couple of years renovating the home. They believe there is light at the end of a long, long tunnel for the historic Hillyer Home.

They told the Rome Historic Preservation Commission they hope to put the finished building on the market in another couple of months.

The house is believed to have been constructed around 1890. It was originally home to Judge Junius Hillyer.

The renovation “is not only a love story, but you have to be economically committed to do a project like this,” HPC member Paula Blalock said. “I think that this young man is very brave.”

They expect to put the house on the market for between $1.1 million and $1.2 million when their work is completed.

The home also has a complete sprinkler system installed, in part so that it might be used as a bed and breakfast again.

While they didn’t talk about the cost of the renovations per se, Shawn White said they could have built a brand new three-bedroom, two-bath house for what they had in the front porch alone.

During their renovations, other homeowners in the Oakdene community have taken on their own renovations.

“It’s insane how much work has gone on,” Shawn White said. “Everybody in the neighborhood is super happy.”

Members of the HPC got a tour of the home Tuesday and came away thoroughly impressed with the attention to detail that has marked the work since Colyn White bought the home in April three years ago.

“I think it’s amazing how far this has come,” said Brittany Griffin, the Rome-floyd Planning Department staff member who works with the HPC.

“I thought it was fabulous,” said HPC member Mary Sib Banks after the tour.

Doug Walker Shawn White (from left) explains some of the roofing work on the Hillyer Home to HPC member Mary Sib Banks and planning office staffer Brittany Griffin from the veranda over the front porch.

Above: Rome Historic Preservation Commission member Mandy Maloney examines the work around a fireplace inside the historic Hillyer Home at 2 Coral Ave.

Left, Top: Work to restore the historic Hillyer Home at 2 Coral Ave. is nearing completion. Owner Colyn White said he expects to put it on the market for $1.1 million to $1.2 million. White and his father, Shawn White, have completely redone the home that was built around 1890 and destroyed by a fire in November 2005. The blaze claimed the life of a visitor from Texas.

Photos by Doug Walker Left, Bottom: HPC member Brandie Townsend tries out a concrete bathtub in the crawl space. Below: Members of the Rome Historic Preservation Commission tour the renovation work nearing completion.