207 Peachtree Place

This home was demolished in the late 1960's as part of Urban Renewal Project 6A, N.C. R-52.  Sometime between the years of 1938-1947 this home may have been altered into a duplex, or quite possibly it wasn't recognized as being split as a duplex until this time. Throughout most of the 1930's and 1940's the home was occupied by William Noel, a tailor. In Hill's Durham Directory in 1947 George Tate was listed as the tenant of side "B" of the home. 

Not much has been recorded about the houses on this block, but from Hill's Durham Directories I can deduce that Peachtree Place did not exist prior to 1887 but had numerous homes built on it by 1905, meaning that most homes were built during that time frame. Throughout the years, sections of the street were called Peachtree Alley. 

Former resident Lawrence Ridgle descibes the community:

"I was born in Durham. Lived in Durham all of my life. I was born about a block from Main Street in an area they call Peach Tree Alley. I stayed there until, I guess, I might have been three or four years old. And it there was kind of ghetto type place."   

Oral History Interview with Lawrence Ridgle, June 3, 1999. Interview K-0143. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007)

 At the time of demolition, the house was bought from the estate of LM Massey to make way for new public housing.  

Numerous blocks of homes were bought up and torn down, the end result being a Peachtree Place that now begins on the 300 block rather than at zero.  The houses of 203-209 Peachtree Place as well as 109 Elizabeth St were grouped together as a parcel. All but one home in that parcel were owned by the estate of LM Massey, who was part owner of O.C. Upchurch & Co Heavy and Fancy Groceries at 105 Parrish St.