By Amanda Vanderbroek/ Roanoke-Chowam News-Herald

MURFREESBORO — The Rea-Lassiter house in the heart of the Murfreesboro Historic District has been designated a historic home.

Murfreesboro Town Council recently approved a request to designate the home as historic after a required public hearing.

The rear portion of the home on North Fourth Street dates back to 1790 and was constructed by William Rea, a wealthy Boston merchant and shipper. Around 1840 the Lassiter family added onto the home.

The Murfreesboro Historic Properties Commission in April approved the application to designate the home historic.

The request had been sent to the State Historic Preservation Office before the document was returned to Town Council for the approval.

Councilwoman Gloria Odum offered a motion to accept the recommendation from the Historic Properties Commission to designated the house historic. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro-Tempore Sarah Wallace and passed without objection.