Preservation Chapel Hill

06/08/2026

A Window into the Past

The Strayhorn House in Carrboro began as a one-room log cabin built in 1879 by Tony and Nellie Strayhorn, who were formerly enslaved. Today, the outline of that original cabin remains visible within the home's living room. Over time, the 150-year-old logs have sagged, making it necessary to reinforce three of the four walls. That preservation project is now nearing completion.
One of the most striking features of the recent renovation is the addition of two vertical viewing windows that reveal the original log walls hidden within the structure.

The first photograph, taken recently, shows homeowner Ms. Dolores Clark, a sixth-generation descendant of Tony and Nellie Strayhorn, standing in front of one of the viewing windows on the room's south wall. A close examination of the exposed logs reveals two distinct construction phases. The original hand-hewn logs form a wall approximately six feet high. At a later date, a second layer of logs was added, raising the ceiling height to more than seven feet. Evidence of the original ceiling joists can still be seen in the lower logs, indicating where they were removed during the expansion.

Preservation Chapel Hill has been involved with the Strayhorn House since 2012, when a chimney collapse brought attention to the property's preservation needs. In 2023 and 2024, Preservation Chapel Hill completed a major stabilization project that included foundation repairs, floor leveling, replacement of faulty HVAC ductwork, and improvements to divert groundwater away from the structure.

More recently, Preservation Chapel Hill collaborated with Orange County to prepare and submit a nomination for the Strayhorn House to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The second photograph shows the viewing window on the left side of the south interior wall. The image clearly illustrates the transition between the original lower logs and the newer upper logs that were added during the building's expansion, providing a remarkable glimpse into the evolution of this historic home.

06/07/2026

The Strayhorn House has recently been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The nomination for the National Register was a collaboration between Preservation Chapel Hill and the Orange County Historic Preservation Commission.

Listing on the National Register is a great honor that recognizes the importance of the Strayhorn House to local historic preservation.

05/29/2026

05/20/2026

Membership Month www.preservationchapelhill.org or call 919-942-7818

05/20/2026

The Coker-Venable House
609 North Street

Named for botany professor William Chambers Coker, this “Prairie Style”house was sensitively renovated with input from covenant-holder
Preservation North Carolina. Although the exterior renovations blend well with the house, the renovations to the foundation and mechanical systems are equally impressive.

Professor William Chambers Coker and his wife, Louise, daughter of university president Francis P Venable, purchased 65 acres north of the village and built their modified prairie style house in 1908.

The Cokers named the house “The Rocks” for a prominent cluster of rocks facing North Street. The rocky area is preserved for public access and contemplation.

The Coker Hills neighborhood was named for Professor Coker, a well known botanist. This property is recognized because of its exceptionally sensitive renovation and preservation of Professor Coker’s legacy.

This property has been awarded a special Preservation Award by Preservation Chapel Hill during Preservation Month 2026.

05/20/2026

Why Become a Member of Preservation Chapel Hill at the Horace Williams House you ask?

Protect Historic Places • Celebrate Local History • Support Community Preservation • Connect With Others Who Love Chapel Hill

05/18/2026

The UNC Study Center -203 Battle Lane

Several years in process, this exceptional historic renovation is both visually compelling as highly functional. Judge William Horn Battle built this structure around 1843 on a site east of the University. The imposing two-story house was originally five bays wide with six over six windows and interior end chimneys. Judge Battle shared a
law office with Samuel Field Phillips located at 401 E. Franklin Street and, along with Phillips, helped to establish the UNC Law School. The judge’s son Kemp Plummer Battle, lived here from 1876-1891 and enlarged the original house by adding flanking wings. The Battle House, also known as Senlac, is listed due to a thorough and historically appropriate upgrade and expansion by the new owner, the UNC Study Center, which was awarded a special Preservation Achievement Award by Preservation Chapel Hill during Preservation Month, 2025.