Artist Studios

943-949 East Main St.

943-947 East Main, 05.07.07 943-949 East Main appears to have been built in the mid-1920s, replacing earlier frame stores that stood on the site. The tenants varied significantly over the course of the mid 20th century. 1928 945 Edgemont Mercantile Co. 947 Crown Cafe 949 Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company 1933 943 Edward D. Glenn, Grocer 945 Parker's Drug Store 947 William Bros. Grocers

Golden Belt Manufacturing Co.

A textile factory intimately linked with tobacco production, the Golden Belt Manufacturing Company started in the Old Bull Building at American Tobacco before Julian Carr constructed the large plant on East Main Street to cut and sew bags for loose leaf tobacco. The company later branched into hosiery production and paper products - cartons and packaging for Lucky Strike cigarettes were made here. After outlasting all of of its early textile contemporaries, Golden Belt closed in 1994. In 2008, the property was redeveloped as s a mixture of residences, artists studios, office space, and retail.

Golden Belt - Building Three

11.13.13 (Photo by Gary Kueber)

Straw Valley

(Courtesy Preservation Durham) Per the Preservation Durham 2012 Pyne Award Nomination (in italics): Before 15-501 was a four-lane thoroughfare between Durham and Chapel; before the construction of I-40 through the Triangle; and before Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Barnes & Noble, and parking lots dominated the intersection of I-40 and 15-501, two artists...

303-305 East Chapel Hill Street / "the Palms"

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...