Preservation Durham, North Carolina

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For more information about Preservation Durham

please contact our office at (919)-682-3036 or
by email

2006 TOUR: STEP INTO HISTORY: OLD NORTH DURHAM

Tour graphics by Flywheel design

Over 600 people enjoyed a day in Old North Durham during Preservation Durham's 10th Annual Old Durham Tour. The May 6, 2006 tour included over a dozen homes built between the 1880s and the 1920s, from Queen Anne mansions to Craftsman bungalows. When Old North Durham was new, Roxboro Road headed north through farmland belonging to the Geers, the Lynches, and the Rigsbees.

A building boom began when the streetcar line came up Mangum Street from Downtown to Little Five Points, and Brodie Duke purchased the farmland and subdivided it into suburban lots. After World War I, development continued as bungalows and cottages were built west of Mangum Street.

Today, Old North Durham is in the midst of a revival, and visitors could see renovations going on on many homes throughout the

neighborhood as they toured the homes open for the tour. The tour included many homes that have been completely restored, but a few, including the Mangum House and the McCracken-Mize House, were works in progress showing tourgoers the high hopes of new homeowners for the potential of their older homes.

Thanks to the Sponsors of the 10th Old Durham Tour! Get involved with Preservation Durham's major annual event by being a sponsor of the 11th Annual Old Durham Tour in 2007, when we explore another of Durham's historic neighborhoods! Please contact the Preservation Durham office for more information.

Farm to City: Explore 19th century houses built when farmland started just east of Roxboro Road

Mangum Street Mansions: Promenade Mangum Street's eclectic and elegant turn-of-the-century houses

Bungalows Galore: Discover charming 1920s bungalows and cottages west of Mangum Street.

Tour Introduction

Calvary United Methodist Church was the site of the Tour Introduction on Saturday, April 29. A panel of long time North Durham residents told tales of growing up in the neighborhood before and during World War II.

Left: Tour Chair Ellen Cassilly talks with 87-year-old Tucker Parrish after the presentation. Right: Long-time North Durham resident Walker Stone chats with Downtown developer Mike Lemanski.


Left: Panelists Mildred Teer and Caroline Wright traded news after the presentation. Right: Panelists included (L-R) Caroline Wright, Dillard Teer, Mildred Teer, Walker Stone, and Tucker Parrish. Tour Chair Ellen Cassilly moderated the discussion.

Tour Kick Off Party May 5

tour kick off

Preservation Durham staff members Carrie Mowry and Elizabeth Peel welcomed party guests on the front porch of the Elliott-Ferrell House.

Party hosts managed to rig a huge tarp over the party area, but fortunately, the expected rain held off and guests enjoyed gathering on the patio. Top right: Local musicians played traditional string band tunes for party guests. Below: Guests lingered long into the lovely spring evening.

Tour Pictures

Preservation Durham staff member Elizabeth Peel
managed the tour base at Calvary United Methodist
Church, greeting tourgoers with a smile!

Classic cars parked along Mangum Street added to the fun of the Old Durham Tour. This gem is in front of the Oren Belvin House.

step into history

Visitors to the Manning House saw locations used in the movie Bull Durham, in which the house was the home of Annie Savoy. It's still called The Bull Durham House!

Tourgoers study their tourbooks on the porch of the McCracken-Mize House as they decide where to go next. The books provided lots of fascinating details about Old North Durham and the houses on the tour.

Tourgoers enjoyed relaxing on the porches of tour homes like the Pickett House as they made their way around the neighborhood. The wonderful weather added to the pleasure of the tour.

The American Tobacco trolley circled the tour area giving tourgoers a lift as they explored Old North Durham. Mangum Street was closed to other traffic for the tour.

Tour photos by Jan Hessling.
For more information about the sites on the tour, see the 2006 Tour Guide Book, available from Preservation Durham.

Archives and Tour Pictures

2007
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2006
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2005
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