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

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

The rear portion of the home, located 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.

John Sullins said in April the Murfreesboro Historic Properties Commission approved the application to designate the home historic.

Councilman Bill Theodorakis asked if the request had to be sent to the state.

Sullins said it had been previously sent to the State Historic Preservation Office before the document was returned to Town Council for the final 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.