The Chicken Hut, Durham’s oldest continuously operating Black-owned restaurant, holds significant historical importance as a pivotal community hub during the Civil Rights Movement. Established in 1957 by Claiborne and Peggy Tapp, the restaurant became a symbol of Black activism, providing meals to jailed protestors during sit-ins and supporting local civil rights organizations. As urban renewal threatened Black businesses, the Tapps relocated to Fayetteville Street, where the Chicken Hut stands today and became a vital meeting place for Black leaders and activists. Beyond its role in civil rights, the Chicken Hut also supported Durham’s cultural and educational communities, partnering with local schools, artists, and organizations. The Tapps’ enduring commitment to service and community outreach continues through their son, cementing the Chicken Hut’s legacy as a cornerstone of Durham’s Black history and activism.
The Chicken Hut on Fayetteville Street has been a landmark in the Durham community for decades. It's time to make this recognition official with designation and protection as a City of Durham Landmark.
Preservation Durham has prepared a Local Landmark nomination with the owner's support and will be submitting it at the end of February. However, the application fee for submitting new landmark applications is $1,735 + processing fees ($22,750 for a new local district). Preservation Durham believes this fee, which is significantly higher than any other municipality in North Carolina, is a barrier to equitable representation and is committed to covering the fee - but we need your help.
We need to raise the funds to cover the application fees for the Chicken Hut nomination application fee ($2,000) plus additional funding ($500) to cover the fabrication of a bronze Preservation Durham plaque to recognize the building. Any funds raised over the goal will be restricted to covering application fees for future pro-bono nominations Preservation Durham undertakes for new landmark and/or National Register designations in Durham County.
Preservation Durham is committed to the preservation of ALL of Durham’s diverse heritage and historic sites and look forward to undertaking more nominations to this goal in the future. Please join us in this mission by helping offset the costs of application fees.
P.S. You can also do your part to keep the Chicken Hut around by supporting a local Durham business at 3019 Fayetteville Street!
The Durham Athletic Park (DAP) is owned by the City of Durham. In 2024, the city hired Perkins & Will to assess the potential future uses of the facility in a way that best benefits the community. As an underutilized historic venue and outdoor space, Preservation Durham is excited about the opportunity to transform the historic ballpark into a lively, public outdoor venue downtown, while preserving its history and its importance to Durham.
The city’s timeline for this project includes three phases: (1) data collection and community input; (2) shaping the vision; and (3) finalizing the plan. You can help influence the future of this site by participating in the community input process. Complete the city’s survey by February 28, 2025, and attend an information session.
What does preservation mean for DAP? The park is a contributing property within the Foster and West Geer Streets National Register Historic District. Key features of the original 1939 structure—including the ticket booth, concession stand, and field—are integral to its historical character and should be preserved as part of any adaptive reuse.
We are confident that with thoughtful, respectful reuse—incorporating modern upgrades in creative ways—DAP can once again become a vibrant downtown destination.
Announcing our 2025 Annual Home Tour Theme: The Golden Anniversary!
May 17 and 18, 2025
We are excited to finish out our 50th anniversary strong with our 2025 Home Tour theme! This year we are highlighting numerous houses varying in architectural styles and date built, as we celebrate the histories of a few of the houses that make up our plaque program. Homeowners and Preservation Durham volunteers alike have completed extensive on each of these homes prior to this tour, documenting a detailed historic record commemorated with a plaque. These homes represent the importance of historic preservation, as seen with the multifaceted lived experiences of each former and current home owner. We are so grateful to our plaque home owners and want to celebrate them and their homes!
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Home Tour page on our website. Early bird tickets are $30 for members and $40 for general admission. Prices will increase May 1.
Interested in sponsoring the annual home tour and other Preservation Durham programs and events - putting your brand and business in front of hundreds of like-minded people who love Durham and it’s historic architecture? Consider becoming a Sustaining Sponsor! Visit the link below for 2025 opportunities or reach out to Julianne Patterson.
Last year, Preservation Durham partnered with the City of Durham to pursue a Certified Local Government grant for the nomination of Emorywood Estates to the National Register. The grant was awarded and the City is now seeking proposals from qualified consultants to undertake the survey and nomination.
Emorywood Estates is a mid-century African American residential community with houses dating from 1964 to the 1980s. It was advertised to Durham’s growing Black middle-class and attracted lawyers, doctors, teachers, and more. Preservation Durham submitted the initial study list application for the neighborhood in 2011 and in 2020, it was officially added. Preservation Durham board member and NCCU History Dept Chair, Dr. Charles Johnson, has documented the history of the community’s residents for years and we are excited to see this designation come to fruition. To learn more about the impactful residents of this Durham neighborhood, check out the City of Durham’s Neighborhood Improvement Service Department's Our Community Stories series which featured Emorywood Estates in 2021.
To learn more about the project you can review the RFP, which is due February 21, 2025.
The White Rock Baptist Church Parsonage (1219 Fayetteville Street) is an important representation of the White Rock Baptist Church and a pertinent symbol for Black civil rights in Durham. The White Rock Baptist Church congregation dates to 1866 and the Parsonage was built in 1923. The first occupant was Rev. S.L. McDowell, who lived there from 1924-1933. The plaque commemorates Rev. Dr. Miles Mark Fisher and Mrs. Ada Virginia Foster Fisher. Dr. Fisher received his Bachelor of Divinity from Northern Seminary, the first African American to do some from this institution. The American Historical Association awarded Dr. Fisher’s PhD thesis with the “Outstanding History Volume of the Year”. He was also recognized in as a “Top Ten” Black preacher in America in 1954 by Ebony Magazine. He opened the church to community organization and activity during his time as pastor.
The Parsonage acted as a communal space and resting place for those affected by or fighting segregation. Many visitors, including academics, ministers, and community leaders stayed in the house. The Parsonage acted as a gathering space within the community and continues to represent the legacy of the early church which was demolished and relocated in 1967 during urban renewal.
Copyright of Ernie Barnes.
1013 Willard St is the site of the Ernie Barnes House, associated with football player and Durhamite artist, Ernie Barnes. Barnes attended Hillside High School, where he used art as an escape from bullying. He played football at North Carolina Central University and was drafted in the American Football League, playing for San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos.
Barnes eventually stepped away from football to further his art career and settled down in the Fairfax District in Los Angeles, CA. The Fairfax District was a Jewish-community that Barnes credited for his inspiration to celebrate Black history in his art by recognizing their detailed recording of their shared history.
This inspiration led to Barnes’ exhibit “The Beauty of the Ghetto.” Barnes also did commissioned work for the show “Good Times” and inspired a character in the show based on his paintings. Many of Barnes’ pieces are based on Durham locations including the Palace Barber Shop and Roxboro St. underpass. For more information on Barnes, his life, and his home, check out the post on Open Durham.
Unfortunately, Barnes’ House was demolished during Durham’s urban renewal program in the mid-late 1900s, which affected countless Black-owned homes and businesses. Barnes was interested in moving his home for its preservation, but was unable to get it moved prior to demolition.
Local events and news from us and our partners in preservation you may be interested in.
- Preservation North Carolina Civil Rights Marker Dedication & Open House. February 1, 11 am - 1 pm. Preservation Durham is unveiling the new Civil Rights Trail markers in honor of Willis “Bill” Graves on Oberlin Road at a dedication ceremony. This marker is part of the larger Civil Rights Trail, developed by the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission,which highlights important events, people, and location related to the Civil Rights Movement. More information here.
- Helen’s History Hop Show. February 7th & 8th, 7PM. Free but registration required. Join the Hayti Heritage Center, Switch Theatre Company, and JNF Productions as they host Helen’s History Hop, a story of Helen Thomas, precocious technology-loving middle-schooler, who teams up with the Queen of Time for an adventure that teaches her that "The Future Is Just The Past We Haven’t Lived YET.” Register here.
- Alliance for Historic Hillsborough’s Telling the Full Story. Telling the Full Story is a program “to uncover and share the diverse, often untold histories of Hillsborough. Through community conversations, interactive maps, and oral histories, this program invites everyone to explore the people, events, and places that have shaped our community, fostering a richer understanding of our shared heritage.” The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough will be hosting Stories that Connect Us Community Discussions every Thursday in February from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. Register here. They will also be hosting Stories that Connect Us: Behind the Project on March 18th from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. Register here.
- Durham Queer Trivia: Pauli Murray. February 20, 7 pm to 8 pm. The Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice is partnering with Durham Queer Trivia to host a Queer Trivia session about Pauli Murray.
- Lunch and Learn: Dark Tales of the Eno ft. Dave Cook. February 21, 12 pm - 1pm. Arcana Bar & Lounge. The Eno River Association is hosting a lunch and Learn where they will talk about the “darker side” of the Eno River, with stories of murder and haunted houses. Register here.
- Preservation Durham 2025 Home Tour: The Golden Anniversary. May 17th and 18th, 12 pm to 4 pm each day. Join us as we celebrate our plaque program with nine houses varying in architectural style, date built, and histories!
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