The growth of East Durham began with the construction of the Durham cotton manufacturing Company in the 1890’s along Pettigrew Street. Soon to follow were the Durham Bobbin and Shuttle Mill, Golden Belt Manufacturing Company, Durham Hosiery Mill, Durham Fertilizer Company, and the Chatham and W.C. Carrington Lumber Companies.

In 1902, a trolley line was extended into the residential areas along Angier Avenue and Holloway Street as far as Driver Street. The Durham Ballfield, constructed at the 400 block of Driver Street, encouraged trolley ridership and offered an exciting new setting for the playoffs between rival teams from local mills.

While East Durham’s first heyday ended with the Great Depression and the closure of several mills, including the Durham Cotton Manufacturing Company, the region’s economic diversity ultimately led to new jobs for many displaced mill hanks at the booming tobacco factories.

Neighborhood Revitalization Project

The East Durham National Register Historic District is an approximately 30 block area largely east of Hyde Park Avenue and west of Guthrie Avenue. The area is anchored by the former East Durham Junior High School which has recently been restored as the Holton Career and Resource Center.

The original textile mill workers, along with tradesmen and merchants were the first to buy land and build houses in the East Durham area. The earliest houses – built between 1880 and 1900 – were Queen Anne and her more modest cousin, the Folk Historian. The years between 1905 and 1930 saw a boom in Craftsman-style houses, including bungalows, cottages and foursquares. As time went by, Tudor-style houses and post-war cottages dominate new construction.

Following WW II, changes in the dynamics of the neighborhood led to a switch from predominately owner-occupied housing to rental properties. Though most of the historic houses are still standing, many are in need of renovation.

Houses in the East Durham National Register Historic District offer enterprising homebuyers a chance to purchase and live in well-crafted, historic houses at affordable prices, with the added benefit of state and federal tax credits that range from 30% to 40% of rehabilitation costs.

Properties may be viewed at www.preservationdurham.org

For more information contact Pauli Henson, Endangered Properties Manager, Preservation Durham at pauli@preservationdurham.org or 682-3036.

 

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