First Baptist Church (1878-1927)

(Courtesy Duke Archives)

The First Baptist Church was the first church in Durham. The congregation formed in 1845 as the Rose of Sharon Baptist church, according to Boyd's history of Durham, "in the Piney Grove schoolhouse, 1 mile south of West Durham." In 1850, with population growing near "Durhamville" and Prattsburg, they moved their congregation to the current Pettigrew St. With the railroad contruction, they moved to the area of the 500 block of Cleveland St. Boyd describes it as a "country church" on 4 acres, with "preaching held once a month" as there was no regular pastor.

In 1876, Dr. Columbus Durham was employed as a full-time pastor, and the name of the church was changed to Durham Baptist, as another congregation to the north of Durham had also taken the name Rose of Sharon. In 1878, the church wanted to move to the center of town, and purchased a lot on Mangum St. They constructed the church soon thereafter.

In 1896, the church was expanded to the south with a chapel addition.
 

(Courtesy Durham County Library)

With the establishment of Blackwell's Baptist Church on West Chapel Hill St. in the 1880s, the name of the church was changed to the First Baptist Church. The small steeple on the south side of the church was an addition to the original structure added in about 1890. The town grew around the church, and by the turn of the century commercial structures had nearly surrounded the church. This picture, looking west, shows the trolley lines coming from Holloway St. and diverging north on Mangum and south to join Main.

Above, a partial view of the church with a revival tent set up to the north. The split of the streetcar lines at Holloway is visible in the street. ~1910s
(Courtesy Durham County Library)

First Baptist from N. Mangum St.
(Courtesy UNC)

One of SE Rochelle's motorcycle tours, starting across the street from his bicycle and motorcycle store in front of FBC.
06.17.17

Below, looking northwest, the church in 1924. The 100 block of East Parrish St. is in the foreground. The road just to the right of the church was Rigsbee Ave., which used to extend past East Chapel Hill St. to North Mangum.

(Courtesy Duke Archives)

In 1927, the church wished to expand, and built a new structure on Cleveland St., at the terminus of Chapel Hill St. (which is the building still in use today.)

The piece of land between Orange, Mangum, and Rigsbee St. was then developed with commercial structures as well. At the southern 'point' of this semi-triangle was Boone's Drugs. DL Boone had joined with the Haywood-King drugstore, and King sold his interest to Boone. The new drugstore, Haywood-Boone, was located at the northwest corner of W. Main and N. Mangum Sts. until that location was sold to Walgreen's in 1937. Haywood left the business, and DL Boone opened his own drugstore at the Orange, Rigsbee, Mangum location.

Looking northwest, 1963. Orange St. is on the left, N. Mangum on the right.

I don't really know the story behind the shot below - a mid 1960s rally for 'supporting schools.'

(Courtesy Durham County Library)

By sometime in the mid-1960s, Boone's had closed and the building had become "The Coffee Break".

Looking northeast - Orange St. is on the left.
(Courtesy Durham County Library)

Just north of Boone's Drugs on N. Mangum St. were several commercial structures and businesses, including Gladstein's, which "fit the big man."

Looking northwest from N. Mangum., 1963. Boone's Drugs is at the left edge of the picture.

These structures angled a bit at the less-than-90 degree intersection with Rigsbee Ave.

Looking north, 1963.

Below, another view of the commercial row, late 1960s

(Courtesy Durham County Library)

By 1973, the parking deck on East Chapel Hill had been constructed, blocking off Rigsbee Ave., and Boone's Drugs / The Coffee Break had been demolished.

Looking northwest, 1973.
(Courtesy Durham County Library)

These remaining buildings were demolished soon after this, and the whole area became surface parking.

Looking northwest at the former interection of Rigsbee and N. Mangum.

Looking north at the former 'point' of the triangle/ Boone's Drugs.