Government

07.18.60 "Children Playing at Long Meadow, 06.17.55" (Courtesy The Herald-Sun Newspaper) Long Meadow Park was established in 1932 through the donation of land by John Sprunt Hill to the City of Durham; the park was initially segregated, accessible only to whites. East End Park was established at the same time (also donated by Hill) one block to the...

There are a lot of aspects of Durham's history that are poorly documented and difficult to research. But sometimes it seems like I may be the only person who has ever been interested in the history of Durham's parks. Like many of Durham's parks, East End and Long Meadow are comprised primarily of lowlands adjacent to one of Durham's multitude of creeks - in this case, Goose Creek - a tributary which flows north-northeast into Ellerbe Creek.

"Oval Park Before Improvements, 05.02.49" (Courtesy The Herald-Sun Newspaper) 05.02.49 (Courtesy The Herald-Sun Newspaper) 05.02.49

Rendering of Few Gardens, 04.23.52 (Courtesy Herald Sun via Dana Few Pope) Initial grading work at Few Gardens, 04.23.52 (Courtesy Herald Sun via Dana Few Pope) The genesis of Few Gardens was enabled by the Federal Housing Act of 1949, which created three Federally funded programs: Title I: Federal funding for "slum clearance" in American cities...

Looking north from N. Elizabeth St., May 1965 (Courtesy Durham County Library / North Carolina Collection) Site of Durham County Garage, 11.08.10

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

Duke Park, originally part of Brodie Duke's large landholdings, was farmed by farmer Lee Perry during the early 20th century. It was also evidently used by surrounding neighbors to surface mine coal - Durham's primary heat source prior to its usurpation by oil/gas heat in the mid-20th century.

Stanford L. Warren Library, 1950 (Courtesy Durham County Library / North Carolina Collection) Out of the Durham Colored Library at East Pettigrew St. and Fayetteville St. grew the seeds for the Stanford L. Warren Library.

Original "Durham Colored Library", looking east ~1910s. (Courtesy Durham County Library / North Carolina Collection) The "Durham Colored Library" began as a Sunday School library established at White Rock Baptist Church by Dr. Aaron Moore in 1913. In 1916, Dr. Moore and John Merrick provided the necessary funds to construct the above building at...

(Courtesy Durham Fire Department) Fire Station #4 was constructed in 1926 on the northeast corner of McMannen St (later South Mangum) and Cobb St. at a cost of $14,350. Sanborn Map, 1950, showing the fire station on the northeast corner of Cobb and McMannen. Fire Station #4, 1950s