701-702 HOLLOWAY
The unusual and unique houses at 701 and 702 Holloway, just to the east of the Durham Belt Line railroad tracks, were undoubtedly built by the same builder around the turn of the century. With intricate sawnwork (covered by vinyl siding now,) mansard roofs (including a mansard gable on 702 Holloway) and pedimented windows, these houses survive largely intact. James Burns, a grocer, was the first occupant of 702 Holloway, and probably the person who had the house(s) built.
701 Holloway next to the old Holloway St. bridge, looking north, 1950s
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)
701 Holloway while the Holloway St. bridge is being replaced (with train passing through) looking northeast, 1950s
(Courtesy Herald-Sun)
702 Holloway, 1970s
701 Holloway, 2007
702 Holloway, 2007
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9 comments:
Clad as it is in vinyl, 701 Holloway is to my eyes the weirdest effin' building in all of Durham. I had no idea it was so old.
Didn't know they had mobile homes in the 1800s! ;)
These houses are totally cool. They scream 'Renovate ME!'. And not being that large, it wouldn't take a herculean effort to do. Thanks for profiling these oddities Gary.
Phil
The vinyl does contribute to that odd mansard-mobile-home look.
Anon1
Covered wagons?
Anon2
They are quirky as hell, aren't they? Too bad we seem to have, for the most part, lost the ability to inject some whimsy into our construction of new houses.
GK
I'm fond of the small (and falling-apart) houses that line Railroad St. just south of these houses, too.
Phil
Agreed. I took pictures of those the same day I took the above. There is one in particular I really like with big multi-paned windows.
GK
701 Holloway is for sale. Price $20,600, but the realtor's listing has these chilling words:
"BRING ALL OFFERS!!! House in need of many major repairs. Great for investment purposes. Bring your investors and make us an offer!"
Just what we need: an "investor." Please, someone with some taste, buy that house and rip off that siding. . .and fix it up nicely.
I heard from an older relative that there were some (3?) beautiful daughters of the owner living there in the 1910's-1920's -1930's. Unfortunately, I didn't pick up on the names.
These unique homes exemplify the Victorian-era architectural motto: we'll consider anything.
Doing genealogical research today I learned that I am colaterally related to the James H Burns who built these houses. Born about 1862 in Chatham Co, he was son of Spencer Burns. He married Alice Stephens and was still living at 702 Holloway when he died in 1935. He lies buried in Maplewood Cem.
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