Downtown Durham

Ever wonder why Corcoran St. stopped at East Chapel Hill St. until the 2006-2007 link with Foster St., with 303-305 East Chapel Hill Street directly in front of you? Because Willie Mangum's farm was in the way when the streets were laid out. Looking north-northwest from Corcoran St. ~1890s. (Courtesy Duke Archives) By the early 20th century, Willie...

107-109 East Chapel Hill Street - visible above as the single story structure between the two two-story structures with two large pyramidal skylights. (Courtesy Duke Archives) Notice the central, arched first floor entryway with flanking arched windows. It's possible, with the size of the front entryway, wide enough to acommodate a carriage. 100...

The home of the "Golden Belt Hose Company", a primarily volunteer firefighting squad, was constructed at the intersection of Holloway and Mangum Streets between 1888 and 1893, likely in 1890, on land adjacent to the E.J. Parrish tobacco warehouse.

Looking southwest, ~1920. (Courtesy Duke Archives). After Durham County was established by vote of the state legislature in 1881, the first courthouse (and everything else related to the business of the new county) was located in rented space in Stokes Hall, on the northeast corner of Corcoran and West Main St.

The south side of the 100 block of West Main St. contains a collection of some of the oldest structures remaining in downtown. The buildings at 117 and 119 West Main St. both date from the 1890s. 117 and 119 West Main, 1905. (Courtesy Duke Archives) An unusual shot shows these buildings from Parrish St. immediately after the fire of 1914 - a view...

The building at 104 West Parrish St. was constructed in 1908. West Parrish from Orange St., looking northwest, 1922. A bird's-eye view of Parrish Street, looking northwest, 1924. (Courtesy Duke Archives) 106 West Parrish, the brick building on the northwest corner of Orange St. and West Parrish, was built by William P. Clements for his office...

Looking southwest from East Main St., 1908 (From "Images of America: Durham" by Stephen Massengill) The remaining commercial structures in the 100 block of East Main St., like the structures profiled yesterday, housed a variety of retail and service businesses.

Looking southwest from East Main St., 1908 (From "Images of America: Durham" by Stephen Massengill) The remaining commercial structures in the 100 block of East Main St., like the structures profiled yesterday, housed a variety of retail and service businesses.