35.980303, -78.93688
Year built
1938
Architectural style
Construction type
Neighborhood
Use
Building Type
(From Triangle Modernist Houses)
Paul F. Baum Residence. Designed by William Potter, husband of Baum's stepdaughter. Featured in the October 1941 Architectural Record. Sold in 1968 to owner (as of 2011) James Bonk. [Longstanding professor of chemistry at Duke - who taught 'Bonkistry' to a simply massive number of undergraduates - including me.]
Comments
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 1/12/2012 - 12:49pm
This house was, for my entire upbringing in Durham, completely obscured by ivy and shrubbery. We always wondered who the reclusive person was who lived there, if anyone. At a house party in Chapel Hill of all places, around 1999 or so, I met a girl who grew up on Pinecrest and she told me all about the legend of Professor Bonk. Imagine my surprise when I was driving down the street one day a few years ago and suddenly the house was completely exposed to the outside world. I nearly drove off the road from surprise.
Submitted by Sarah Burdick (not verified) on Thu, 4/12/2012 - 10:21am
I also always thought a hermit lived in this house because it appeared to be a mound of ivy. But Professor Bonk still lives there and is often seen on the trail. He was recently honored when a tennis court at Duke was named after him in Ambler stadium.
Submitted by Pavel (not verified) on Fri, 6/27/2014 - 2:42pm
Prof. Bonk has sadly passed away in 2013. I was reading up on him and found this (apparently verified) gem on Wikipedia:
Bonk was known for his sense of humor. A group of students went out of town for a party and got back late saying they were delayed by a flat tire. He said they could take a makeup exam the next day. When they came the students were each put in a different room. The first question on the exam was a straightforward question worth 5 points. The second question on the next page was worth 95 points and said "Which Tire?".
RIP to a Duke legend!
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