Julian Carr was born in Chapel Hill, NC

Per "Durham and Her People":

Over a period of about 50 years, beginning in September 1870, Julian Shakespeare Carr was one of the outstanding leaders in the development of Durham.  [...] Trinity College's first endowment came from Carr, $10,000 in securities in 1887, at a time when that little college in Randolph County was very hard pressed for funds.

 He died in Durham, NC in 1924.

1601 James Street, Durham NC

built around 1930

architectural style: Craftsman

construction type: Frame

national register: Lakewood Park

neighborhood: Lakewood-Tuscaloosa

type: Residential

use: Residence 

Below in italics is from the National Register and has not been verified by the author.

House. Craftsman-style 1-story side-gabled house with 4/1 sash windows, a glazed and paneled door with 1 sidelight, a shed porch with boxed posts, and a gabled donner with casement windows. Overhanging eaves have exposed rafter tails and decorative brackets. The house was extended one bay to the north in a design that matches the original house. Vinyl siding covers the walls.

1612 West Lakewood, Durham NC

built around 1925

Below in italics is from the National Register and ha snot been verified by the author.

James F. Hill House. Pyramidal cottage with 2 interior chimneys and a hipped front dmmer with casements. Alterations, including a hipped porch that has been enclosed, vinyl siding, and replacement sash windows have compromised its architectural integrity. James F. Hill, a machinist, owned and occupied this house fi'om at least 1925 to 1952. [1925-1952 CD]

Below in italics is from the National Register and has not been verified by the auhtor.

Cole House. Side-gabled, 1-stmy bungalow with 2 interior chimneys, weatherboards, a glazed and paneled door with 1 sidelight, 1/1 sash windows, and overhanging eaves with exposed rafter tails and decorative brackets. The engaged porch has Craftsman posts and wood railing with Chippendale accents. Ernest W. Cole was the occupant in 1930. Mrs. Edna T. Cole, nurse, was the owner/occupm1t in 1939, and by 1952 Mmiin B. Cole'was owner/occupant. [1930, 1939, 1952 CD)

(Below in italics is from the 2004 East Durham National Register listing; not verified for accuracy by this author.)

Pyramidal cottage with a front cross-gable, a side gabled wing, weatherboard, and 1-over-1 sash windows. The wraparound porch has stone Craftsman piers and replacement metal posts, and is enclosed as a room on the side. 1930 CD, 1937 SM.

NC Shed. Ca. 1960. Concrete block shed that has lost its roof.

The land for 2002 East Main Street (Formerly Reams Avenue, prior to East Durham's annexation in 1925), was purchased by Haywood Alvin Jones, Sr. and his wife Lela Jones in 1913 from Durham Land & Security Company. Haywood, or H.A. Jones, was a butcher and Co-Owner? of the Butcher Shop in City Market that existed where the Durham Armory now stands in downtown Durham. The Joneses only lived in the home for a few years before moving across the street to a large two-story victorian 101 N. Driver (now the parking lot for Shepherd's House), for the remainder of their lives. They rented the home in the 20s and 30s to a variety of tenants, including H.A.'s employee, Lonnie L. Davis. In 1944, H.A. and Lela sold the home to John T. Ellis and his wife Eulalia Ellis. In 1949, Zoe O Barbour had purchased the house. He and his wife Callie Davis resided there for a number of years, until around the time of their deaths in 1976 and 1980. After this, it becomes unclear, but it was purchased by Elaine Armstrong's relation (Sister, Aunt?), sometime around 1978-1981. Elaine took the house on around 2000, and Benjamin Filippo and Alison Rudel purchased the home in 2014. They are currently attempting to restore it to its' original looks as best as possible.

Any additional photographic evidence of the home prior to 2000, would be greatly appreciated!

Here it is after our renovations!

1700 W. Lakewood Ave, Durham NC

built early 1920s 

Below in italics is from the National Register and has not been verified by the author.

Judge Alf Wilson House. Large 2-story pyramidal-roofed Craftsman-style house with 2 tall chinmeys and overhanging eaves with exposed rafter tails. Other original features are a hipped donner with casement windows, a hipped wraparound porch with Craftsman posts and wood railing, weatherboards, 511 sash windows, and a glazed and paneled door. The fi·ont steps have granite caps. The east side has an miginal2-stmy wing. The family of Judge AlfWilson were the owner/occupants fi·om at least 1939 to 1952.

1700 W. Lakewood Ave, Durham NC

built around 1910

Below in italics is from the National Register and has not been verified by the author.

Gable-and-wing 1-story house that was raised to 1 1/2 stories with an addition about 1930. Original features ai·e tall 1/1 sash windows, a glazed and paneled door with a single sidelight, a side bay window, and a fi·ont porch with classical posts. The addition added a half-story, with pairs of 6/6 sash windows. Hugh Curtis, a clerk at Holland Brothers, was the owner/occupant by 1921. His widow, Bessie, remained here until at least 1952.

Looking west on East Main St. from Church St., 1895.
(Courtesy Duke Archives)

The building on the southwest corner of Church St. and East Main was Johnson's drugstore; the building immediately to its east was another commercial building, although I don't know what type of business was located there. Upstairs from Johnson's drugstore was the site of the first telephone exchange in Durham, established in 1894. After a few years at this location, the exchange moved westward to the (first) First National Bank building before being moved across the intersection from this building to the northeast corner of Church and East Main.

Looking southwest at the 100 block of East main, 1905, with the corner building at the left extreme.
(Courtesy Duke Archives)

Once the best terminating vista in Durham - the view from Union Station, looking north up Church St. at Trinity Methodist - circa 1905. The featured building is on the left.
(Courtesy Duke Archives)

By the 1920s, the building housed the Court Square drug store as well as the offices of "LL Tilley, Dr. Johnson, [and] Dr. Bowling"

Looking west from the intersection of Church and East Main, circa 1920.
(Courtesy NC State Division of Archives and History)

The corner building housed Bryant's Luncheonette on the ground floor in the 1930s, and the Court Square Barber Shop in the basement.

For most of the mid-20th century, along with its neighbor 126-128 East Main, these two buildings were the location of the Boy's Shop (on the corner) and the Young Men's Shop (immediately to the west,) clothing retailers for the both.

Looking southwest, 1950s. Bryant's is gone, but Court Square Barber shop remains in the basement.
(Courtesy Durham County Library)

In the mid-1960s, these buildings were demolished. It doesn't appear that they were taken as part of Urban Renewal, so I don't know the reason for the demolition. It is possible that they were taken by the city separately and demolished for the parking deck which replaced Union Station.

Looking southwest, 1966. The old jail is in the background.
(Courtesy Durham County Library)

Looking southwest, 1968.
(Courtesy Durham County Library)

This remains a vacant lot today, with some fairly useless green space where the barbershop used to be. Again - infill, infill, infill.

Looking southwest, 2007.

Scott Harmon announced in February 2012 than he plans to develop infill residential condominiums on this lot:

02.26.14

Construction underway at Church and Main. 04-Sep-2014.

04.28.15 (G. Kueber)

(Courtesy Duke Archives)

The buildings along the west side of the 200 block of North Church St. are a very-well preserved block of early 20th century structures. The Hicks building, on the northwest corner of North Church and East Parrish, and its immediate 3 neighbors to the north were constructed around 1910. 209-211 North Church, at the northern end of the row, was constructed somewhat later, likely during the early 1920s.

The Hicks Building at 201 N. Church St. housed the May and Page grocers in the early mid-20th century.

The above only shows a small portion of 201 N. Church to the left, but you can see the brick of the structure prior to the application of paint. (Courtesy Norman Williams Collection)

In the early 1970s, it housed "Tommy's Barber Shop."

The Hicks building, 1977, looking east on East Parrish St.
(Courtesy Durham County Library)

The 200 block of North Church St., 2007.

These buildings are a great cluster of contiguous historic structures - they are just too isolated with the desolate landscape to the east and southeast. Some great renovation has happened here over the past few years, though - notably at 209-211, at the north end of the block - a really impressive interior re-do.

Looking southwest, 2007.

The latent potential in the buildings on the west side of N. Church St. is amazing, though. Active participation and some thinking/planning beyond the immediate needs of the government will be needed by the county, which owns all the moribund land on the east side of N. Church. If that's ever developed into something with active storefronts facing N. Church , this little two-block section could be a great node of development on the east side of downtown.

04.28.2015 (G. Kueber)

----

(Courtesy Duke Archives)

The buildings along the west side of the 200 block of North Church St. are a very-well preserved block of early 20th century structures. The Hicks building, on the northwest corner of North Church and East Parrish, and its immediate 3 neighbors to the north were constructed around 1910. 209-211 North Church, at the northern end of the row, was constructed somewhat later, likely during the early 1920s.

203, with beautifuly corbelled brick, housed Piedmont Furniture during the early 20th century, before Piedmont moved to Morgan Street. By the 1950s, it housed an "awning manufacturer"

Only a very small portion of 203 N Church is visible to the left, but this shot shows the brick facade prior to painting.

(Courtesy Norman Williams Collection)

1970s - 203 N Church is the yellow structure with the detailed cornice.

(Courtesy Norman Williams Collection)

The row of buildings in the early 1970s.

The 200 block of North Church St., 2007.

These buildings are a great cluster of contiguous historic structures - they are just too isolated with the desolate landscape to the east and southeast. Some great renovation has happened here over the past few years, though - notably at 209-211, at the north end of the block - a really impressive interior re-do.

Looking southwest, 2007.

04.28.2015 (G. Kueber)

(Courtesy Norman Williams Collection)

(Courtesy Duke Archives)

The buildings along the west side of the 200 block of North Church St. are a very-well preserved block of early 20th century structures. The Hicks building, on the northwest corner of North Church and East Parrish, and its immediate 3 neighbors to the north were constructed around 1910. 209-211 North Church, at the northern end of the row, was constructed somewhat later, likely during the early 1920s.

In the early 20th century, 205 housed the Model Cleaners; 207 housed the Durham Laundry.

The row of buildings in the early 1970s.

The 200 block of North Church St., 2007.

These buildings are a great cluster of contiguous historic structures - they are just too isolated with the desolate landscape to the east and southeast. Some great renovation has happened here over the past few years, though - notably at 209-211, at the north end of the block - a really impressive interior re-do.

Looking southwest, 2007.

04.28.2015

04.28.2015

The fourth and last of the main telephone exchange buildings established downtown, and the only one dedicated to the purpose, was the building at 104 Holloway St. The telephone exchange had begun on the southwest corner of Church and East Main Sts. in 1895, then moved to the First National Bank Building, then in 1904 to the northeast corner of N. Church St. and East Main St. Ongoing expansion of telephone service
led to the Interstate Telephone and Telegraph Co. building a new telephone exchange structure at 104 Holloway St. around 1920. In the clear-as-mud language from the 1953 Herald-Sun that describes the development of this building:

"The exchange was moved to its present location in 1920, occupying part of what is now but half of the present building. The second half of the present building was constructed in 1931."

I hope future readers find my writing about development easier to follow than this. In 1933, the nterstate Telephone and Telegraph Co. changed its name to the Durham Telephone Company.

Looking southwest, 1950s
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)

Below, a view showing the windows on the east side, and the addition extending east from the rear of the building towards Trinity Methodist.

Looking west, 1953
(Courtesy The Herald-Sun)

In 1953, it was noted that the Durham telephone company provided service to 29,300 stations from three exchange buildings in Durham. This building, the main exchange, housed 6600 lines of central office equipment, and a $0.5 million addition was about to add another 8800 lines. 104 Holloway housed general offices and the commercial department on the first floor, switching equipment (and the offices of the vice-president and repair department) on the second floor, and accounting, billing and information departments on the third floor.

And a blurry view from the other side, looking southeast, 1966.

(Courtesy Durham County Library)

This shows a simple building with nice-appearing Italianate windows.

In 1967, General Telephone built an adjacent addition on the east side of the building, and, at sometime soon thereafter, the entire front of the original building was covered with the aforementioned yellow nastiness.

Looking west, 08.09.67
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)

Looking southeast, 1975.
(Courtesy Durham County Library)

(These dates don't quite add up unless they did two separate construction projects on the addition.)

Which is still on it today, in 2007.

This building is actually available on the commercial real estate market currently. They must expect some silly sum of money for Greenfire (which owns three adjacent buildings) not to have snapped it up. I contacted the company to find out the asking price. "We don't have an asking price" was the answer. Oh really. My bit of (free) real estate advice. 1) Peel off the yellow junk, and 2) you're not selling the Burj Dubai - get a price.

Update 2008:

So Greenfire did eventually buy the building, and peeled off the nasty facade material, revealing the nice brick underneath.

104-106 City Hall Place, 04.14.08.

I've heard it mentioned as a part of their Rogers Alley re-development, which includes the Fire Station No. 1, Rogers Drug Store, and 107 East Parrish. I haven't heard anything in particular about intended use for this building, though.
 

Update 2014:

Greenfire sold the building for $725,000 in 2013. It was purchased by "Durham Exchange, LLC," which is managed by a Richard M. West. As of Spring 2014, it is being renovated.

04.21.14

04.21.14

04.28.2015 (G. Kueber)

The Home Savings Bank Building, 01.30.69
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)

The Home Savings Bank occupied the eastern half of 313-315 East Chapel Hill Street through the 1950s; it then replaced the western half (which had been replaced 29 years earlier with an exuberantly art deco building) with a new exuberantly modern building, transitioning half of the structure, at least, all the way from Mansard to Modern to Launch Vehicle.

The building at 313-315 East Chapel Hill Street was constructed around 1907 as the Corcoran Hotel, but did not survive for long due to stiff competition from the other downtown hotels. It became Mercy Hosptial, then the Durham Business School.

From the Washington Duke Hotel, looking northeast, likely mid-1920s.
(Courtesy Duke Archives, Wyatt Dixon Collection)

From the corner of Corcoran and East Chapel Hill St., looking northeast. Probably a little bit later than the above picture, but before 1934, when the Post Office was built.
(Courtesy Duke Archives, Wyatt Dixon Collection)

The entrance

(Courtesy Duke Archives, Wyatt Dixon Collection)

The business school appears to have closed by the 1930s. The "Tip-Top Tavern" was located on the first floor during this era.

(Courtesy Durham County Library)

As seen from the east, looking west from Rigsbee, mid-1930s.

(Courtesy University of North Carolina / North Carolina Collection)

In the 1938, the 313 half of the building was torn down and replaced with a art deco/moderne movie theater known as the Center Theatre, built by general contractor George W. Kane.

Looking east, Foster St. in the foreground. The Center Theater is under construction, and 315 E. Chapel Hill perists to its east.
(Courtesy Duke Archives)

Below, the completed Center Theater and 315 East Chapel Hill, 1940. This is the only picture I've seen with a complete Center Theater and an unmodified 315 East Chapel Hill.

(Courtesy Library of Congress)

Below, a closer picture of the Center from about 1948, going by the movie title.

(Courtesy Durham County Library)

In 1951, 315 East Chapel Hill St. was 'modernized' by removing the mansard roof, parging the exterior of the building, replacing the windows, and other changes that fundamentally changed the character of the building.

Above - being 'updated' for the demanding standards of the 1950s, 02.22.51
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)

Above, the Center Theater and 315 E. Chapel Hill from the Washington Duke Hotel, looking northeast, mid-1950s
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)

Like most (all?) downtown movie theaters, the Center was segregated. Unlike the Carolina, which admitted African-Americans - but only through a side door to be able to sit in the balcony, separated from whites, I don't think the Center admitted African-Americans at all.

As a result, it was a focus of civil rights protests, like the one pictured below.

Looking east, 03.10.61
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)

Looking east, 03.10.61
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)

By the mid-1960s, this incarnation of the Center Theater was reaching the end of its lifespan, short of 30 years old. I'm not sure if it ever de-segregated at this location.

(Courtesy The Herald Sun)

Above and below, the Center Theatre around 1965, again by the movie titles, looking northeast from Corcoran, near Chapel Hill St.

(Courtesy Durham County Library)

By 1966, the Center theater moved to Lakewood Shopping Center. The building was sold to the next-door neighbor, Home Savings and Loan, which demolished the theater.

Demolishing the theater, looking north, 01.09.67
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)

Demolishing the theater, looking south, 03.30.67
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)

Demolishing the theater, looking northeast, 03.30.67
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)

(Courtesy Durham County Library)

The building which replaced it, the Home Savings Bank, is what you get when you combine modernism with whimsical.

(Courtesy Durham County Library)

The Home Savings and Loan Building, 01.30.69
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)

The same building today, now the Mutual Community Savings Bank

While I feel like I should dislike this building because of unclear openings for doors and windows, on most days I can't help but like it. Unlike a lot of stolid modernism, this just seems sort of irrepressibly geeky, in that Revenge of the Nerds/Napoleon Dynamite kind of way.

The building immediately to the east of the bank remains the original 315 East Chapel Hill St., albeit radically transformed. Visible around the window frames is brick, underneath the parged concrete exterior (on the sides.) Not much other clue to its origins, except for the general size and massing (minus the mansard roof.)

Looking northwest from East Chapel Hill St., 2007.

04.28.2015 (G. Kueber)

1981

(Below in italics is from the 1984 National Register listing; not verified for accuracy by this author.)

Dick Holland, one of the owners.of Holland Furniture Company, had this two story frame house constructed around 1918. The tall hippeq roof breaks to form pedimented gables above the shallow wings that project from each facade. Typical of the period are the tall polygonal chimneys with corbelled stacks and the one story wraparound porch supported by Doric columns. After living here for only a few years, Holland sold the house to the Reverend George Watkins, pastor of Grace Baptist Church. Originally, the property included the lot to the east and was surrounded by a very tall and thick hedge. The Watkins family owned the house until 1958. Since then, there have been several owners, one of whom converted the dwelling to apartments. The house is currently under restoration by the present owner.

02.12.11

The house appears to be older than the National Register description.  Nathan Deck Holland (not Dick) is listed as living at the corner of  Shawnee and Trinity in the City Directory for 1909-1910.  He has a different address in the 1907-1908 City Directory.  So the house was probably built around 1908, not 1918 as listed above.  Deck Holland owned Holland Bros. Furniture with his brother, Cary.

Pure Oil station, 1955
(Courtesy Wayne Henderson)

To my knowledge, one of the last two cottage-style Pure Oil stations left in Durham, along with the one at Alston and East Main Sts., is the one located near the junction of West Main St. with Hillsborough Road. Built by 1937, this station appears to always have been associated with a larger distribution center (the "Bulk Oil Plant") for the Pure Oil Company, given large horizontal, cylindrical tanks located to the rear of the building apparent in 1930s-1950s maps and aerial photos, and still present today.

By the 1950s, this station and the associated infrastructure was owned by Couch Oil Company. It appears to be owned by Unocal today.

Former Pure Oil station, 04.04.09.

A rather elaborate Pure Oil, cottage style station stood at the southeast corner of Vickers Ave. and West Chapel Hill until the 1960s; between 1960 and 1969, the Pure Oil station was torn down and replaced by another mid-century modern classic - the Phillips 66 station with the large triangular awnings. 

1941

A rather elaborate Pure Oil, cottage style station stood at the southeast corner of Vickers Ave. and West Chapel Hill until the 1960s.

Between 1960 and 1969, the Pure Oil station was torn down and replaced by another mid-century modern classic - the Phillips 66 station with the large triangular awnings. 

01.17.69

In 2013, this was demolished by EDR for their apartment complex development on this and the former Holiday Inn site.

02.27.13

02.27.13

702 Holloway, late 1960s

The unusual and unique houses at 701 and 702 Holloway, just to the east of the Durham Belt Line railroad tracks, were undoubtedly built by the same builder around the turn of the century. With intricate sawnwork (covered by vinyl siding now,) mansard roofs (including a mansard gable on 702 Holloway) and pedimented windows, these houses survive largely intact. James Burns, a grocer, was the first occupant of 702 Holloway, and probably the person who had the house(s) built.

702 Holloway, 1970s

702 Holloway, 10.13.2007

1947 (Courtesy Rod Mullen)

(Below in italics is from the 2004 East Durham National Register listing; not verified for accuracy by this author.)

Leon J. Kirkland Jr. House. Pyramidal cottage with a front gable wing, 1-over-1 sash windows, and a hipped Craftsman porch with a replacement railing. Alterations include vinyl siding and an added front picture window. 1920 CD: Leon J. Kirkland Jr. occupant (foreman). 1937 SM.

Looking west on East Main St. from Church St., 1895.
(Courtesy Duke Archives)

The building on the southwest corner of Church St. and East Main was Johnson's drugstore; the building immediately to its east was another commercial building, although I don't know what type of business was located there. Upstairs from Johnson's drugstore was the site of the first telephone exchange in Durham, established in 1894. After a few years at this location, the exchange moved westward to the (first) First National Bank building before being moved across the intersection from this building to the northeast corner of Church and East Main.

Looking southwest at the 100 block of East main, 1905, with the corner building at the left extreme.
(Courtesy Duke Archives)

Once the best terminating vista in Durham - the view from Union Station, looking north up Church St. at Trinity Methodist - circa 1905. The featured building is on the left.
(Courtesy Duke Archives)

By the 1920s, the building housed the Court Square drug store as well as the offices of "LL Tilley, Dr. Johnson, [and] Dr. Bowling"

Looking west from the intersection of Church and East Main, circa 1920.
(Courtesy NC State Division of Archives and History)

The corner building housed Bryant's Luncheonette on the ground floor in the 1930s, and the Court Square Barber Shop in the basement.

For most of the mid-20th century, along with its neighbor 126-128 East Main, these two buildings were the location of the Boy's Shop (on the corner) and the Young Men's Shop (immediately to the west,) clothing retailers for the both.

Looking southwest, 1950s. Bryant's is gone, but Court Square Barber shop remains in the basement.
(Courtesy Durham County Library)

In the mid-1960s, these buildings were demolished. It doesn't appear that they were taken as part of Urban Renewal, so I don't know the reason for the demolition. It is possible that they were taken by the city separately and demolished for the parking deck which replaced Union Station.

Looking southwest, 1966. The old jail is in the background.
(Courtesy Durham County Library)

Looking southwest, 1968.
(Courtesy Durham County Library)

This remains a vacant lot today, with some fairly useless green space where the barbershop used to be. Again - infill, infill, infill.

Looking southwest, 2007.

Scott Harmon announced in February 2012 than he plans to develop infill residential condominiums on this lot:

02.26.14

Construction underway at Church and Main. 04-Sep-2014.

04.28.15 (G. Kueber)

07.26.15 (G. Kueber)

The south side of the 100 block of West Main St. contains a collection of some of the oldest structures remaining in downtown. The buildings at 117 and 119 West Main St. both date from the 1890s.

117 and 119 West Main, 1905.
(Courtesy Duke Archives)

An unusual shot shows these buildings from Parrish St. immediately after the fire of 1914 - a view only possible because the normally-intervening buildings had been destroyed.

From "Images of America: Durham" by Stephen Massengill

After the original First National Bank building was demolished in 1913 and the new building was built, the buildings at 117 and 119 remained unaltered.

Looking southwest from Main St., 1930s.
(Courtesy Duke Archives)

Mid-century pictures of this buildings are lacking. At some point between the 1930s and 1960, the facade of 119 West Main was altered with removal of the large cornice and modification of the windows (including removal of the large fan-light window in the center of the second floor). By the 1950s, both of these facades were modified again by bricking in the windows and painting of the brick/covering of the facades to accomplish that flat-front look that was all the rage.

(Courtesy Durham County Library)

Marilyn's shoes, like most everything else on Main St. in the 1960s, didn't last.

Late 1960s
(Courtesy Durham County Library)

By the mid-1980s, the false fronts/bricking had been removed.

(Courtesy Durham County Library)

One store that stuck it out on Main St. was Baldwin's, which moved down the block (west) from their store to these buildings in 1987.

(Courtesy Durham County Library)

I'm not sure when Baldwin's closed up for good. These buildings have been renovated again. 119 West Main is the Marvell Center, a performance space, and I'm not sure who the current occupant of 117 West Main is.

117 and 119 West Main St., 2007. (G. Kueber)

07.26.2015 (G. Kueber)