35.984029, -78.877569
201 S Driver, 1980
John Cheek constructed the house at 201 South Driver Street in 1899. The land on which it sits was originally part of the WJ Wyatt farmstead, bounded by present-day South Driver, Hart, Ashe, and Briggs Avenue. The property seems to have been subdivided in 1892; I believe the original Wyatt house sits at 211 South Driver.
Cheek was running the company store at the Durham Cotton Manufacturing Company when he built this house; it was originally festooned with an abundance of Victorian ornament on all sides. Later, Cheek made a long career with the Virginia-Carolina Fertilizer Company.
As Cheek's family grew, the northern part of the house was renovated and expanded. The style of this ~half of the house reflects the predominant style in the 1920s rather than the Victorian exuberance on the southern portion.
The house was purchased in 1988 by the current owners, who have been longstanding stalwarts in the revitalization of East Durham - their beautiful renovation of the house has helped exemplify the beauty of East Durham to those who come armed with biases against this part of town.
201 S Driver, 10.02.10
201 S Driver, 10.02.10
(Below in italics is from the 2004 East Durham National Register listing; not verified for accuracy by this author.)
John Cheek House. Architecturally significant 1 1/2-story gable-and-wing type house with weatherboard, 2-over-2 sash windows with peaked lintels, and a front cutaway bay window with pendanted brackets with star motifs. The front gable has sawnwork bargeboard and sawtooth shingles. At the rear is a porch with original turned posts. A Craftsman-style addition created living space in the attic by raising the roof and adding front and rear shed dormer windows. The front wraparound porch was given a solid weatherboarded railing and boxed wood posts. John Cheek, who ran the company grocery for the Durham Cotton Manufacturing Company, built the house in 1899 as his residence. As his family grew, he remodeled it to its current appearance in the 1920s. [Roberts, Durham A&HI, 99]
C Shed. Ca. 1930. Gabled shed with flush siding and exposed rafter tails.
Comments
Submitted by Freddie (not verified) on Thu, 4/7/2011 - 10:40am
I actually have a couple pics on my flickr on this house from one of the E Durham home tours...The owners did a great job with keeping with the character but also making it a artsy colorful place on the inside...
Submitted by Judy Neal (not verified) on Tue, 3/26/2013 - 6:25pm
John and Lena Cheek were my maternal grandparents. I spent many a summer school break at this house and my Momoo and Popoo would so love the way their home has been cared for. Thank you, present owners.
Submitted by Gloria Neal Walker (not verified) on Sun, 3/31/2013 - 12:33pm
From another granddaughter of John and Lena Cheek, Thank you so very much for keeping our grandparents house so beautiful. As my sister said, we spend many,many days in this house and always loved it. Especially sliding down the banisters in the hall and having to sweep the wrap-around porch three times a day. You have done a wonderful job keeping the integrity of the house. Thank you, present owners.
Submitted by Carolyn Cheek … (not verified) on Wed, 5/1/2013 - 3:17pm
I am the daughter of Wesley and Sue Cheek and the granddaughter of John and Lena Cheek. I lived in this house for several years and have great memories of growing up with my grandmother. Her beautiful flowers that she always shared with the many children going to Y E. Smith School to take to their teachers. Thank you for preserving this beautiful home.
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