Fayetteville St/Stokesdale
The Fayetteville Street neighborhood was once one of the most popular neighborhoods in Southeast Durham, and the home of many African-American professionals, businessmen, and professors at what is now North Carolina Central University. Cultural opportunities offered by the nearby college were attractive to residents. The Algonquin Tennis Club, Southeast Durham’s most popular social and recreational spot of the 1930s and 1940s, was located nearby in the 1400 block of Fayetteville Street. Historic Hayti was a thriving commercial district, home to many black-owned businesses.
Many of the historic homes were built between the 1920s and the 1940s. Comfortable bungalows and revival styles taken from plans in popular magazines characterize the neighborhood. Some were built from plans and materials sold as a package in Sears mail order catalogs. Durham builder James Whitted is credited with building a number of these historic homes.
The 1200-2100 blocks of Fayetteville Street are a Local Historic District, and the northern half of this corridor is included in the Stokesdale National Register Historic District – listed in December of 2010.
As the home of the President of North Carolina College (now NC Central University), the Prairie Style James E. Shepard House on Fayetteville Street was a social center and host to many African American cultural and academic leaders.
Fayetteville Street/Stokesdale Links
- National Register Nomination for NC Central (PDF)
- National Register Nomination for Stokesdale HD (PDF)
- Local Historic District (PDF)
