Major Civil War Sesquicentennial Approaching in Durham

Consider this: 150 years ago right now, the Civil War's Campaign of the Carolina's was underway as the Union Army moved North and West through North Carolina to the effective end of the conflict at Bennett Place in Durham. A treaty was signed at a courthouse in Virginia, but in Durham the armies of Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida were surrendered for a total of 89,270 soldiers relinquishing their arms.

In Durham, history is really coming alive in 2015.

A sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) is an important mark in time, especially at Durham's three state historic sites; more than any other city in NC. Those sites, Bennett Place, Duke Homestead, and Historic Stagville, are all producing events to showcase Durham in the time period before, during, and after the war as they welcome visitors and give them a window on this nation-shaping time in history.

Information about bout Durham's role in the conflict, these sites and their planned events, are all collected on this helpful Civil War website.

Durham saw  the last use of artillery, the last casualties, and is the site of the last fighting in North Carolina, There are major events throughout the upcoming months. Check this webpage, search the Durham Event Calendar for history events, and keep an eye on Durham's Facebook and Twitter accounts and follow the #Durham150 hashtag to keep up with all the Civil War related stories.

Inside Historic Stagville

Durham's rich history is best explored in person and there's no better way to do that then at one of Durham's three State Historic Sites. One of thoses sites, Historic Stagville is a former plantation located about 15 minutes north of Downtown Durham. We interviewed site manager Stephanie Hardy about her job, the site, and the unique role that it plays for many of Durham’s African-American families.

StoryCorps & WUNC Seek Stories of Durham and American Tobacco

As Durham's American Tobacco Campus nears its 10th anniversary as a true live/work/play destination, the interest in its past life is growing. What happened to the people who worked there, and where are they now? What was it like working there? What were the tensions and dramas of factory life?

As part of the American Tobacco Campus' anniversary celebration, NPR's StoryCorps in conjunction with 91.5 WUNC, whose radio studios are located at American Tobacco, will collect answers to these questions, and more, in a month-long story gathering process from April 17-May 16, 2014. This oral history will be recorded as another way of preserving the important history of one of Durham's most famous landmarks.

Structural historic preservation is valued in Durham through numerous adaptive reuse architecture projects like Brightleaf Square and Golden Belt,the interest in oral history is strong here, too. The Museum of Durham History has a facility for people to record and to listen to personal narratives from local residents about Durham's past. Learn more about that project here.

To participate in this project, please contact American Tobacco via email and provide a name, email address and phone number. Describe memories or stories up to 200 words along with photographs or other visuals. StoryCorps’ MobileBooth, an Airstream trailer outfitted with a recording studio, will be parked at the American Tobacco Campus to record the stories. Reservations can be made by calling StoryCorps’ 24-hour, toll-free reservation line at 1-800-850-4406 or visiting StoryCorps online. Additional reservation slots will open on April 18.

Learn more fascinating stories about all of Durham's history online.

Durham's History Has A New Home

The Museum of Durham History (MoDH) has signed a multi-year lease with the City of Durham for the former Downtown Durham Bus Transfer Station to serve as the Museum’s first home.

Located at 521 West Morgan Street, the 1,600-square foot building has been newly named the Durham History Hub. Long-range plans are for the Hub to provide an overview of Durham’s lively past and be a jumping off point for further exploration at various heritage sites. The History Hub’s background and preliminary renderings are found on the Museum’s website.

“Right now, Durham lacks a place where people can get the big picture of our community’s unique past, a place that puts current issues in context and helps guide our future,” said Lew Myers, chairman of the Museum’s board of directors. “We see the Hub having a very positive impact on tourism, downtown redevelopment and hometown pride.”

Immediate plans call for a phased-in basic upfit followed later by finishing the space and completing the design, fabrication and installation of exhibits. “We’re aggressively pursuing corporate, government and foundation grants as well as individual donations,” added Myers. “We have a solid start, but there’s a lot to be done in the funding area. That’s why we’re phasing in our use of the building gradually and concentrating right now on programs and events for our outside space and on services online. We plan to bring permanent staff on board soon to be housed at the Hub.”

When fully operational, the Hub will offer exhibits and installations that engage visitors in topics important to Durham’s development.  Tobacco, textiles, civil rights, higher education, entrepreneurship, and the arts are among potential exhibit areas in the years ahead.

“But we’re not going to be the ‘don’t touch’ kind of museum that relies solely on artifacts,” explained co-director Katie Spencer. “Our focus is people, and we’ll tell Durham’s story through the words and experiences of this community. Several of our early events will be ‘pop-up’ museums where residents can share a family heirloom for a day. And we’ll run a ‘Then and Now’ photo project that visually documents how Durham has changed. From day one, this will be a community museum full of the very human side of history.”

In the next few months, the Hub will be gathering ideas from residents, recruiting volunteers, hosting some community events and taking part in activities such as the Spring Art Walk, Centerfest and Third Fridays. Directions for self-guided downtown walking tours will soon be found at the Hub.

Durham Hosts Historic Parrish Street Forum Grand Opening April 12

History buffs should take note of a unique opportunity to celebrate Durham’s Historic Black Wall Street and modern-day renaissance with the grand opening of the Historic Parrish Street Forum.

On Thursday, April 12, 2012, at noon, the City of Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development and the Parrish Street Advocacy Group will gather to officially open the newly renovated space, located at 108 W. Parrish St. Light refreshments will be served and attendees for this event are encouraged to park in the Chapel Hill Street Garage and Lot, located at 326 E. Chapel Hill St. 

The new space was designed to help commemorate the “Black Wall Street” era and the legacy of Black entrepreneurship in Durham; provide an additional venue for meeting space and cultural arts events; create more walking traffic along Parrish Street; and be a catalyst for more retail purchasing and businesses locating on Parrish Street.

Speakers at the grand opening include Parrish Street Advocacy Group Chairman Chuck Watts; Mayor William V. “BillR 21; Bell; N.C. House Representative Larry D. Hall; N.C. Institute of Minority Economic Development President Andrea Harris; N.C. Mutual Life Insurance Company President and CEO James Speed; Pauli Murray Project Director Barbara Lau; and Office of Economic and Workforce Development Director Kevin Dick.

The forum is 3,251 total square feet and can accommodate up to 49 people. The new space can provide banquet and conference tables, chairs, a kitchenette, a presentation screen, and ceiling-mounted projector as well as a podium and microphone. Community organizations, groups, or individuals interested in renting the space should visit the Parrish Street Forum website for details and contact information.

Shooting the Bull in the Bullpen

Chances are that most people have used the phrase “shooting the bull” or the word “bullpen” in their everyday conversations. If so, then thanks. Durham sure appreciates the coverage.

Confused? Well, both of these phrases originated in Durham and they are globally used today with few understanding the origin. Here’s a primer:

Shoot(ing) the Bull

It’s an odd phrase that people use to mean having a conversation to pass the time, since on the surface, it seems a tad violent. In fact, it refers to the act of spitting while chewing (Bull Durham) tobacco – the act of “shooting” the Bull was done often while in conversation.

Bull Pen

This one is actually derived from the placement of an advertisement. For years, Bull Durham Tobacco had an advertisement in Yankee Stadium behind the pitcher’s warm up pen. After a few years, announcers began calling it the Bull Pen…the rest is, ah, history.

So, there you have it. Go forth and repeat.