Warren-Redmond House

1999 (DC tax office)

(The information below in italics is from the Historic Preservation Society of Durham Plaque Application for the Warren-Redmond House)

The house at 406 Watts Street, Durham, NC sits on a piece of land originally part of the Brodie L. Duke farms. It was deeded by James B Warren, the superintendent for Duke Factory (Durham Directory 1892), Vice President Merchant's Bank (Durham Directory 1907-1908) and finally Realtor (1911-1912) to his son Edward Walter Warren "with love and affection" on August 27, 1912. Anecdotal information from grandson James Walter Warren (still living in Sunset Beach, NC) is that this was a wedding gift. 

James Walter Warren passed away between 1914 and 1915 (he is no longer listed in the Durham Directory and record of Deed no. 50 page 426 shows the dispersement of his properties to his three children: Edward Walter Warren, Jennie Redmond, and Bessie T. Farthing). At this time Edward Walter (E.W.) and a Patrick Farthing (presumably Bessie's husband) were listed as living at 410 Watts Street. Up until this time E.W. was listed as the bookkeeper for his father's realty business. 

In the 1917 Durham City Directory, E. Walter Warren is listed as the President of New Hope Realty Co. and living at 410 Watts Street (his father's former residence). By 1920 the address of 406 Watts Street appears in the city directory under the name of William Lynn, a "colored" farmer. EW is still listed as the president of New Hope Realty Co., and still living at 410 Watts Street. In 1922 the city directory now lists EW Warren as living at 408 Watts Street (an address that no longer exists but presumably next door to his father's home at 410 -- thus the current 406 Watts Street). He is still listed as the president of New 20 Hope Realty Co. 

On January 22, 1931 the property at 406 Watts Street, along with a series of other properties, were mortgaged to James Fuller & LP Mclendon, Fidelity Bank, The First National Bank, The Citizens National Bank, and the J.A. Warren, Treasurer Auditorium Building Fund to secure a debt for J.B. Mason of upwards of $50,000 (see Record of Mortgages book 191 pages 373-376). Anecdotal information from son James Walter Warren is that much of this debt was due to gambling. The mortgagee was foreclosed upon December 3, 1931 and the property at 406 Watts Street (tract #4) went to E.S. Booth (see Deed book 104 pages 218-219). E.S. Booth was acting as Trustee for The Fidelity Bank. On December 5, 1931 E.S. Booth and The Fidelity Bank sold 406 Watts Street to Edward G. Mathews and his wife Alice Norton Mathews (Deed Book 104 pages 319-320) for $7520.00 (the amount outstanding from the debt owed The Fidelity Bank) and $136.50 lien by the city of Durham for the cost of re-paving the alleyway. 

During this period of time, the New Hope Realty Co. went bankrupt during the development of what is currently the Forest Hills neighborhood.

In March of 1936 (March 30th) the house was sold to Dr. Christopher Johnston and wife Lucie G. Johnston (Deed Book #118 page 420). They, in turn, sold the house on March 31, 1938 to W.P. Redmond and Jennie W. Redmond (the aunt of EW Warren, the original owner of the house) (see Deed Book 127 p. 477). W.P Redmond died July 7, 1939 and was buried in Maplewood Cemetery here in Durham. Jennie lived in the house at 406 Watts Street until her death in 1960 (April 7, 1960 according to Maplewood Cemetery records). On December 6, 1963 the house at 406 Watts Street was deeded to Nello L. Teer, Gaynelle Teer Earthing and the Central Engineering and Contracting Corporation (Deed book 297 page 660-661) for the value of $18,500 in order to settle a debt with the contracting company. 

It is unclear what happened to the property from 1963 until it was subsequently sold in 1978. Information from neighbors and subsequent owner Nancy Handler is that it was held as a rental property and slipped into disrepair. On April 19, 1978 the property was sold to Mark and Nancy Handler for $24, 000 (Deed Book 969 pages 134-135). They subsequently sold it to R. Sanders (Sandy) Williams and wife Jennifer Scheid Williams on November 20. 1980 for $82,500. The Williams', medical residents at the time, updated the home and sold it to Janice Ewing Harris on April 23, 1990 for $227,000 (Deed Book 1591 pages 289-290) when they moved to Texas. The Williams family has since returned to Durham where Sandy Williams is the current Dean of the Duke University Medical School. 

Jan Harris (and husband Hugh Mace) sold the house on February 24, 1994 to the current owners, Adrienne and Ken Baroff (Deed Book 1954 page 36). 

Based upon the fact that the house was built by EW Warren and then lived in by Jennie Warren Redmond, it would be fitting to call this "The Warren House". Between the information available in the city directory, the Field Guide to American Houses, and the memory of Mr. James Walter Warren, the date of the building in around 1920. 

(Below in italics is from the 1984 National Register listing; not verified for accuracy by this author.)

This Type A bungalow built in the 1910s is a fine example of Craftsman ideals with its shingled exterior, bands of multipaned windows, a well-lit shed roof dormer, a deep porch defined by brick posts and rails, a sun room wing on the south, and a terrace spanning the corner.