PARRISH AND CORCORAN - NE / HACKNEY BLOCK / JACK TAR MOTEL
The Hackney Block consisted of two similar commercial buildings that formed the northeast corner of Corcoran and Parrish streets, and took up about half the street frontage of Corcoran Street between Parrish and Chapel Hill Street.
This view from the 1910s shows only the northern building. It is taken looking east, across Corcoran Street, and shows the detailed cornice and finials.
(Courtesy Durham County Library)
This picture shows a street-level view of the southern building, likely 1915-1925, looking east from Corcoran St.
By the 1940s, the 202 Corcoran St. portion of the building was home to the Vogue Furniture Store
The building immediately to the east of the Hackney Block was the longtime home of Kimbrell's Furniture. In September, 1955, this building burned.
Looking northeast, 9/4/55.
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)
Looking northwest, 9/4/55.
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)
This view from late 1955, looking northeast, show the entire corner, including the repeating cornice line of the two buildings as they wrap around the corner, and the burned-out Kimbrell's behind.
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)
By 1956, Kimbrell's has been torn down and turned into a parking lot.
A low aerial shot looking north on Corcoran St.
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)
By the next view, from 1961, the eastern building is gone, and the Hackney Block is showing signs of neglect.
By 1962, it and another building on W. Parrish St. are mostly demolished in preparation for construction of the Jack Tar Motel.
Looking northeast, 1962.
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)
(Courtesy Durham County Library)
By 1963, the first stage of the Washington Duke Motel is complete.
(Courtesy Durham County Library)
Attempting to compete in the motel era, the proprietors of the Jack Tar (nee Washington Duke) Hotel sought to expand with motel space, including an integrated parking garage and swimming pool. Note in particular the skybridge that connects the new motel with the Washington Duke Hotel, directly west across Corcoran. It is also interesting to note that the motel was built in stages. You can see the remaining older commercial structure at the southeast corner of East Chapel Hill St. and Corcoran in this photo. Its days were numbered.
Swimming pool at the Jack Tar, 09.08.63
(Courtesy The Herald Sun)
Swimming pool at the Jack Tar, 09.08.63
(Courtesy The Herald Sun)
By the late 1960s, the remaining older structure on the southeast corner of Corcoran and East Chapel Hill would be demolished as well, and the Jack Tar Motel would expand to take up the entire block face between Parrish and Chapel Hill Streets, and a large portion of the block bounded by those two streets, Corcoran, and Orange Street.
Looking north from Corcoran and Parrish, December 2006
I don't know if it functioned as a motel after the Washington Duke/Durham Hotel/Jack Tar Hotel went out of business, in the mid 1970s. It is currently owned by Ronnie Sturdivant, who also owns the empty former Holiday Inn on Chapel Hill St (Urban Merchant Center) and really seems to want Oprah. (It has become known as "The Oprah Building" in common Durham parlance.
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8 comments:
Hello. I am an editor at The News & Observer. I would like to talk to the person who runs this Web site. Would you please give me a call? Thanks. Jane Ruffin. 829-4570.
I cringe every time I look at that ugly "motel." The Oprah plea adds a surreal touch. The whole mess looks like something out of a J G Ballard novel.
I don't know JG Ballard, but the building is certainly cringe-worthy. It is ironic and sad that the Washington Duke would be torn down, but this would survive...
Why don't they reopen the rooftop swimming pool? It would be rad.
I agree - you could relax in your lounge chair and gaze out on the miles of brick beach below.
I wonder whatever will become of this property. Though total removal of the motel would make way for some more residential or office space in the city center, it could still function as a motel. Maybe update the facade with all tinted glass (sans 'Oprah')renovate the 1970s interior, re-open the pool...It would add more guest rooms and could be a pretty unique property. And unlike the Durham Centre tower, it has retail space beneath its parking deck.
JDC
Thanks for your comment. It is interesting that some elements of this motel are what constitutes good urban design - as you point out, first floor retail, built to the street, integrated parking behind the active facade. In-and-of-itself, I think the window-wall design could have some good retro value (just updating the colors/painting the frames would help.) To me the worst design element of this building is the overhang of the upper floors - makes it look fat and top-heavy. As another poster pointed out, the rooftop pool would be fun.
GK
Although this hotel is rather dated in appearance, I think it is every definitive part of Durham history. I would like to talk to Ronnie Sturdivant about his plans for this site. Please give me a call. L.Terry at 919-824-1326. Thanks.
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