And so we come to the last 'point' of Five Points, and it is an intriguing one. I find it intriguing because, despite the fact that it isn't written up in any history/architecture books, and I can't find any really good old picture of it, I think it may be (despite heavy alteration) contemporaneous with 111 West Main, which is quoted to be the oldest building downtown (1893). I base this upon the appearance of a building at this corner in the 1893 Sanborn maps, labeled as "2 1/2 stories", which does not change signficantly in shape in the following two Sanborns. The first photo is from ~1910
(Courtesy Durham County Library)
Note the unusual 3rd floor, which almost appears to be a type of hipped roof with projecting dormers - including a dormer facing the cut corner. Also notice the arched doorway, matching the windows.
Here's a nice view of the roof from 1924
(Courtesy Durham County Library)
and a decent view from the 1930s
(Courtesy Durham County Library)
A view of the building during the Tobacco Jubilee parade, 09.25.47.
This impressive shot is noted as being from 1939, but I'm not certain of that. I'm no expert on vehicles, but what I can see makes me think of 1940s rather than 1939 - but regardless, a very early color shot.
"1939 Duke Homecoming parade." (Courtesy Retrochrome.net)
It appears that the building was radically altered in 1954. A pox on people's desire to 'modernize' perfectly wonderful buildings.
1954 view - again, only a partial view, but you can see the scaffolding around the building.
A 1950s view of the altered building. The top floor has been removed, and all of the windows squared/replaced.
01.28.58 (Courtesy Herald-Sun)
1960s - I spliced two historic photos together to make this picture - so it's a bit funky, including half a car by the front door.
(Courtesy The Herald-Sun Newspaper)
Through no fault of its own, this building is prominent in the remarkable and ugly scene below, 1964.
Note the original arched doorway is still visible in 1967
(Courtesy Durham County Library)
More abuse arrived by 1973, in the form of a false facade, but that stubborn arched door remained.
Make those ugly windows go away! They frighten me!
(Courtesy Durham County Library)
The city renovated this building - I believe in the 1980s, but I'm not positive about that, and it has had a series of tenants over the years. Here is the building as of 2006.
All in all, not bad, given what it had been put through. It is an important building at Five Points, as it gives at least one corner some definition. While I am not certain that it is as old as 1893, it certainly dates from pre-1910, and is the only extant building near Five Points that was contemporaneous with the first public library.
Looking northeast, 07.24.08
Scott Harmon purchased the building from the city of Durham in December of 2011 and began renovations soon thereafter to convert the building into retail and residential condominiums.
Rendering of renovated facade.
03.11.12
05.22.12
102 Morris, 06.09.12
The building (re)opened in summer of 2013, with retail tenants such as Pizzeria Toro and the Cupcake Bar.
09.12.12
04.27.13
Comments
Submitted by Joe (not verified) on Fri, 9/15/2006 - 2:45am
Amazing. I haven't been in that building in a long time, but now I'm going in the next chance I get. :)
One of my typical off-topic asides: In the 40s era picture, there's no sign atop the CCB building. I went looking through some of your other pictures; I guess the sign was added between 1950-something and 1965?
Submitted by Sven (not verified) on Fri, 9/15/2006 - 3:56am
I noticed that too - must have been why it was so easy for the Suntrust people to remove it vis a vis the HP commission. I looked up the bank history, and I'd pin it to 1961, which is when the bank changed from Durham Loan and Trust to Central Carolina Bank.
Submitted by coco (not verified) on Mon, 9/18/2006 - 3:02am
would there still be brick beneath the surface stucco? i like the exterior rows or lights on it now.
Submitted by Sven (not verified) on Mon, 9/18/2006 - 1:50pm
I suppose the original material was brick; it is hard to tell from the older pictures. But it was nearly ubiquitous in this era of buildings, so probably so. I'm theorizing that this structure is the same structure, so, in theory, the brick would still be underneath there somewhere.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 9/10/2010 - 12:56am
Are you certain about the 1960s date of that spliced photo? The cars look '40s-ish. Your timeline would have the Coman/Wachovia billboard up, then removed, then replaced? And the Pepsi sign changed to Coke and back to Pepsi? Possible, but I dunno.....
Submitted by Paul Magee (not verified) on Sun, 1/22/2012 - 1:35pm
I'd date the spliced photo around the mid-late 1950s. The newest car I see in the picture (the half-car) is a Chevrolet from around 1953. I see a 1951-2 Chrysler in the background.
Submitted by Michael (not verified) on Thu, 1/26/2012 - 1:39pm
I walked past this building a couple days ago and noticed it is being renovated again. The facade on the corner with the clock on it has been knocked off, and there is some sort of scaffolding on the roof. Anyone have insight as to what the plan is for this building?
Submitted by gary on Thu, 1/26/2012 - 8:13pm
Michael - it's being renovated by Scott Harmon of Center Studio Architecture / Revamp
Here's a Herald story about the plans for the building
http://heraldsun.com/view/full_story/12616736/article-Partners-look-to-…
Submitted by Michael (not verified) on Fri, 1/27/2012 - 1:02pm
In reply to Michael - it's being by gary
Thanks Gary! Love your websites.
Submitted by Tyler Kober (not verified) on Sat, 3/10/2012 - 7:55am
Hello! Just wanted to put my name in the hat here. I'm the final business of the Five Points project. Bullseye Bicycle will open in the 720 sq. ft. of space in the most north part of the building on Morris. This site has been an awesome insight to the spaces' history. Thank you so much for sharing. We are thrilled to be part of the project, and the construction timeline currently has our building finishing in July. The store will sell new, used, and consignment bikes, accessories, and have a full service shop. I've been working in shops my whole life, and this is my dream. Hope to see y'all soon! Thanks!
Submitted by Andrew Edmonds. (not verified) on Wed, 5/2/2012 - 2:42pm
Man, I thought that 1973 photo documented the ugliest this building have ever looked, but the photograph of the Klan walking the sidewalk in front of it beats it out for sure!
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