Northern Durham

John McMannen was one of the more unique and interesting characters figuring in the early history of Durham, both city and county. Sources differ as to where and when McMannen was born - Wyatt Dixon states that he was born Jan. 12, 1806 in Pennsylvania - Jean Anderson states he was born in 1812 in Virginia. Anderson states that McMannen moved south...

Willie Person Mangum, son of William Person Mangum was born in 1792. He was educated at "academies in Hillsborough, Fayetteville, and Raleigh" before attending the University of North Carolina. He studied law with Duncan Cameron and was admitted to the bar in 1817. He was elected to the state legislature at 26 years old, served as a Superior Court...

Horton Grove Dwellings, 02.07.09

The construction of Stagville Plantation arose from Richard Bennehan's trek south from Virginia in 1768 to work with William Johnson at his store on the Snow Hill Plantation. He managed Johnson's store, living at Snow Hill for 8 years. It appears that he fought for the rebel side in the Revolutionary War - likely fighting in the Battle of Moore's Creek.

Among the early structures scattered through northern Durham County, the Lipscomb House/Arrowhead Inn is potentially the most recognizable and recognized. A large stone arrowhead sits at the corner of the property, marking the location of the old Indian Trading Path.

---- Christian's (West Point) Mill, 1890s. (Courtesy Duke Rare Book and Manuscript Collection - Wyatt Dixon Collection) West Point may the most persistently relevant site in Durham - a place of importance to Native Americans, early European settlers, and present-day residents of Durham. The West Point area was well-known to the Eno Indians, who...

Liggett and Myers Operations Center, 1967. (Courtesy The Herald-Sun Newspaper) Although I don't know the motivation behind the construction of the Liggett and Myers Operations Center out North Roxboro Road in 1967, I'd like to think that the large neo-colonial structure was meant to evoke the image of the other tobacco magnate manses - Bonnie Brae and Lochmoor - along this stretch of roadway.

(Courtesy Durham County Library / North Carolina Collection)

Teer House, 04.16.68

Prison Farm / County Home, 1880s. (Courtesy Durham County Library / North Carolina Collection)