Fendol Bevers Farmhouse Saved

The Fendol Bevers Farm, straddling Leesville Road near Briar Creek, is a remarkable early farmstead that dates to about 1850. Preservation Durham listed the property on our Places in Peril List in 2012.  Click here for more information on that listing.

The acreage surrounding the house was purchased by a suburban home developer in 2012.  In 2013, their permit process triggered Federal review of historic resources on the property.  This process identified the Fendol Bevers Farmstead as an historic resource, and Preservation Durham was included as a consulting party in the Federal Section 106 process.

As part of this process, Preservation Durham was given one year to find someone interested in acquiring, moving, and renovating the house.  

We had many folks who were interested, but were

 10 sites in North Carolina, including 2 in Durham (the Whitted School and the Durham Hosiery Mill Dye House) were just added to the National Register. We’re so glad to see these important buildings get recognized- and now they’re eligible for preservation tax credits!

The Whitted School

Congratulations to the Carrboro-based Caktus Group for buying and rehabbing 108 Morris St., a great 1910 building right by Five Points.

Check out this article in the Durham News about the historic Fendol Bevers house. We’re working with the developers to help move this amazing structure!

Sadly, after months of exploring alternate possibilities, it was announced this week that Lavender Avenue Park House in Northgate Park will be deconstructed. The structure, which was on our 2012 Places in Peril list, sits in

Fendol Bevers Farmstead

5713 Leesville Road

Why it’s important:
The Fendol Bevers Farm, straddling Leesville Road near Briar Creek, is a remarkable early farmstead that dates to about 1850. This early I-House has Greek Revival details, a stone foundation and chimneys, original windows with ornamented surrounds, and an intact interior. Early farm buildings surrounding it include a kitchen house, smoke house, and several tobacco barns and storage sheds. Fendol Bevers was Raleigh’s City Engineer and surveyed Wake County. His 1871 survey map helped establish the Durham County borders when it split from Wake County 10 years later. In 1895, after Bevers’ death, the house and farm were sold to J. Elmer Ross.

The Fendol Bevers Farm may be one of the best preserved

Fendol Bevers Farmstead, 5713 Leesville Road

Why it’s important:
The Fendol Bevers Farm, straddling Leesville Road near Briar Creek, is a remarkable early farmstead that dates to about 1850. This early I-House has Greek Revival details, a stone foundation and chimneys, original windows with ornamented surrounds, and an intact interior. Early farm buildings surrounding it include a kitchen house, smoke house, and several tobacco barns and storage sheds. Fendol Bevers was Raleigh’s City Engineer and surveyed Wake County. His 1871 survey map helped establish the Durham County borders when it split from Wake County 10 years later. In 1895, after Bevers’ death, the house and farm were sold to J. Elmer Ross.

The Fendol Bevers Farm may be one of the best