1106 Alabama Ave.

36.016511, -78.931667

1106
Durham
NC
Year built
1917
Architectural style
Construction type
Local historic district
National Register
Neighborhood
Use
Building Type
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Stoner House, approx 1920 (postcard sent in 1924.)

Back of postcard from Dr. Ira Stoner, 1924.

One of my favorite odd and slightly spooky houses in Durham is now much less so in bright blue, and looks surprisingly more fairy talesque.

National Register Entry:

Dr. Ira J. Stoner House. Unusual 2-story, front gabled, Shingle Style house features clipped gables, a wood shake exterior, Craftsman 12-over-1 sash windows, eave brackets, and exposed rafter tails. The flat-roofed entry porch has a round-arched entrance, battered posts, and a roof balcony. The side entry is essentially the same without the balcony. One of the first houses built in this area, then known as Oakland Heights, for Dr. Stoner and his wife.

Sara Lachenman, of Four over One Design did additional research on the house and was kind enough to provide it: 

In 1915, deeds show architect Hill C. Linthicum purchasing a number of lots in Club Acres and Hester Heights from the West End Land Company.  By 1917, both Hill C. and his son Henry Colvin (also an architect) are listed as living on Club Boulevard near 12th (now Carolina Avenue), in an unknown house.  In 1916, Hill passed the piece of property at 1106 Alabama to H. Colvin and daughter-in-law Catherine - it is “the southern half of lot No. 75 of the West End Land company Hester property." The elder Hill kept ownership of the northern half of the property, now the site of the small brick ranch house at 1108 Alabama.  By the 1919 city directory, H. Colvin and Catherine are listed as living at “16th corner D, Oakland Heights" - Englewood was D and Alabama was Sixteenth Street.

Hill C. continued to live on Club Boulevard until his untimely death in 1919, due to sudden heart failure.  It appears that his son and daughter-in-law soon moved back into his house on Club, as it is listed as their residence in 1921, the same year they sold the house on Alabama, to Dr. Ira J. Stoner.  It appears he lived there alone for a number of years, with his wife, Lizzie, appearing in city directories about 1930.  The doctor practiced medicine in Durham for 10 years after relocating from Jonesville, Michigan, and had an office at 1916 1/2 West Trinity Avenue first, then at 331 West Main Street - later the Snow Building

Stoner passed away in June of 1931, and funeral services were held at 1106 Alabama.  His obituary lists his membership in the Masonic order, the West Durham Methodist church, the North Carolina Medical society, and the American Medical association, among others.  Further, “he served as a captain in the medical corps of the United States army and had been commissioned as major in the medical reserve corps” (Durham Herald, Wednesday, June 24, 1931).  Lizzie Stoner remained in the house and retained ownership until 1944.

With J.W. Wilkinson’s ownership of the Alabama house in 1945, it became a rental property.  The first tenant was Charles E. Patterson, of the US Army, with his wife Olivia R.  In 1950, Harry B. and Charlotte G. O’Rear lived there; Harry was a physician at Duke Hospital.  It was probably near the end of Wilkinson’s ownership or after his sale of the property to Mamie Tetree Wilson in 1964 that the house was divided into apartments, and has remained as such until the recent remodeling.  Luckily, despite the years of deferred maintenance, the house retains a surprising degree of architectural integrity in its form, exterior materials, fenestration, and detailing.


David and Kelly Parker purchased the house in August 2010 for $120,000. David runs Riverbank Construction, and has been renovating the house since that time.

1106Alabama_front_Oct2010.jpg

October 2010 (Courtesy Sara Lachenman)

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October 2010 (Courtesy Sara Lachenman)

1106Alabama_front_032011.jpg

03.01.11

1106Alabama_post_030111.jpg

The back addition is held up by, seemingly, a lamppost. 

03.01.11

1106Alabama_geotag_032011.jpg

Historic Geotagging! I love it. (Courtesy Sara Lachenman)

1106Alabama_backyard_302011.jpg

03.01.11 (Courtesy Sara Lachenman)

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10.30.11

 

Comments

I love this house, and I never found it "spooky" or "scary."  It was obviously conceived of as a rustic lodge, and given that hardly any other houses had been built nearby when this one was constructed, I'm sure it seemed to fit its surroundings.  Appropriate paint colors would have been earth tones:  greens and browns.

I'm glad to see that the house is being saved from falling down, but the exterior color is hideous.  It's rather like taking a classic 1960's British-racing-green MGB, and repainting it pink.  Blech!

It also reminds me of that odd, elderly couple who used to attend Carolina basketball games and sit on the front row, wearing Carolina blue hats, sweaters, shirts, slacks, socks, shoes, waving Carolina blue pennants and pompoms, and holding a very large Carolina blue Ramses doll.    The lady even seemed to  have blue hair.  Have they moved to Durham?

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I disagree, the color is lovely and cheerful. Earth tones, really.....? 

been enjoying watching the progress on our dog walks. we used to call this place the Boo Radley house.

 

 

 

Just thought I'd let everyone know in case you're interested:

 

Sneak Peak: Alabama Ave Rehab - Satisfy your curiosity!

 

David and Kelly Parker and Preservation Durham are offering a sneak peak tour of the renovation of the former "Purple Castle" on Alabama Ave in Watts Hillandale. This unique c.1911 house was neglected and derelict for many years. Overgrown with vines and vegetation and every surface painted a fading purple, it was even a little spooky. But the Parkers saw the potential in this one-of-a-kind house and have been working on a full rehab for over a year now. The work is almost complete, and Preservation Durham has arranged for the house to be opened to curious neighbors and old house fans before the new family moves in.

 

David Parker (the contractor behind Riverbank Custom Homes and the new owner) will be there to answer questions about the project. Also, Sara Lachenman (Four Over One Design and a PD Board member) was the project's preservation consultant and will be on hand to answer questions about the tax credits and preservation issues. 

 

Thursday, December 1, 2011

5:00-7:00 pm

1106 Alabama Ave, Durham

$5 (suggested donation to Preservation Durham)

In 1915, deeds show architect Hill C. Linthicum purchasing a number of lots in Club Acres and Hester Heights from the West End Land Company.  By 1917, both Hill C. and his son Henry Colvin (also an architect) are listed as living on Club Boulevard near 12th (now Carolina Avenue), in an unknown house.  In 1916, Hill passed the piece of property at 1106 Alabama to H. Colvin and daughter-in-law Catherine - it is “the southern half of lot No. 75 of the West End Land company Hester property." The elder Hill kept ownership of the northern half of the property, now the site of the small brick ranch house at 1108 Alabama.  By the 1919 city directory, H. Colvin and Catherine are listed as living at “16th corner D, Oakland Heights" - Englewood was D and Alabama was Sixteenth Street.



Hill C. continued to live on Club Boulevard until his untimely death in 1919, due to sudden heart failure.  It appears that his son and daughter-in-law soon moved back into his house on Club, as it is listed as their residence in 1921, the same year they sold the house on Alabama, to Dr. Ira J. Stoner.  It appears he lived there alone for a number of years, with his wife, Lizzie, appearing in city directories about 1930.  The doctor practiced medicine in Durham for 10 years after relocating from Jonesville, Michigan, and had an office at 1916 1/2 West Trinity Avenue first, then at 331 West Main Street - later the Snow Building



Stoner passed away in June of 1931, and funeral services were held at 1106 Alabama.  His obituary lists his membership in the Masonic order, the West Durham Methodist church, the North Carolina Medical society, and the American Medical association, among others.  Further, “he served as a captain in the medical corps of the United States army and had been commissioned as major in the medical reserve corps” (Durham Herald, Wednesday, June 24, 1931).  Lizzie Stoner remained in the house and retained ownership until 1944.



With J.W. Wilkinson’s ownership of the Alabama house in 1945, it became a rental property.  The first tenant was Charles E. Patterson, of the US Army, with his wife Olivia R.  In 1950, Harry B. and Charlotte G. O’Rear lived there; Harry was a physician at Duke Hospital.  It was probably near the end of Wilkinson’s ownership or after his sale of the property to Mamie Tetree Wilson in 1964 that the house was divided into apartments, and has remained as such until the recent remodeling.  Luckily, despite the years of deferred maintenance, the house retains a surprising degree of architectural integrity in its form, exterior materials, fenestration, and detailing.

The color is lovely and cheerful on an Easter egg.  But a house, really. . .?

Years ago I went to the ACC tournament and saw grown men wearing powder-blue leisure suits.  This house makes me think of that. 

I lived in one of two second floor apartments in this house from 1967 to 1972. It was an interesting house with one of the most beautiful and varied border gardens in the back yard that I have ever seen. In the front, surrounding the main entry, were two gorgeous crepe myrtle trees. It is lovely to see that it has been restored to such an attractive home.

Maureen McDonald, formerly Keates.

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