Thirty-Six Hours in Durham... Through the Eyes of a New York Times Writer

Durham is a cool mix of diverse culture and good food as New York Times reporter Ingrid K. Williams discovered recently when she paid the Bull City a visit: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/02/16/2683317/36-hours-in-durham.html

Williams kicks off her tour with a visit to Duke's Sara P. Duke Gardens: http://www.hr.duke.edu/dukegardens/ and the Nasher Museum of Art: http://nasher.duke.edu/.

Next, she heads over to Los Comales for Spanish tapas: http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/25/291361/restaurant/North-Durham/Los-Comales-Durham

Downtown Durham features Motorco Music Hall: http://motorcomusic.com/ and Fullsteam Brewery (a personal favorite of my family): http://www.fullsteam.ag/beer/

It's 10 a.m. on a Saturday and where does this NY reporter head? Why the Durham Farmer's Market, of course: http://www.durhamfarmersmarket.com/

Next on her list was the Upfront Gallery at the Bull City Arts Collaborative: http://bullcityarts.org/, Liberty Arts Gallery: http://liberty-arts.org/ and LabourLove Gallery: http://labourlove.com/.

Known for its great food trucks, Durham now has two that have been transformed into into brick-and-mortar restaurants: Only Burgers http://onlyburger.com/ and the Parlour: http://theparlourdurham.com/

Shop until you drop for Durham's own local designer labels at Vert & Vogue: http://vertandvogue.com/

For a dinner Southern-fried comfort, head on over to Dame's Chicken & Waffles: http://dameschickenwaffles.com/, then top it of with an aperitif at Whiskey: http://whiskeydurham.com/index2.php#/home/

 On her third day in Durham, Williams enjoyed a Bavarian Brunch from: Guglhupf Bakery and Restaurant: http://guglhupf.com/ and then topped it off with some frisbee golf at one of the two courses at Cornwallis Road Park, 2830 Wade Rd; and Valley Springs Park at 3805 Valley Springs Road.

Special thanks to News & Observer staffers Mark Shultz, editor of the Durham News; and Jim Wise, columnist and writer. They shared some of their favorite Durham spots that the Times overlooked. They were:

Museum of Life and Science: http://lifeandscience.org/

Duke Lemur Center: http://lemur.duke.edu/

West Point on the Eno: http://www.enoriver.org/

Bullock's Bar-B-Cue: http://www.bullocksbbq.com/

Don’t Miss Our Open House at 1827 Hideaway Lane This Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

This wonderful two-story is on quiet, Hideaway Lane in the great Heritage II neighborhood and was built in 2001. There’s a cozy living room fireplace with gas logs with an attractive mantel piece with custom shelving. The separate dining room has a large bay window and lets in lots of light. The modern kitchen has easy-to clean, gleaming white cabinetry.

With a total of 1,352 sq.ft. of living space, this three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath traditional home has a large master bedroom. You’ll enjoy outdoor living from a large deck just off the dining room. The great .42-acre lot features a private backyard, an outdoor storage closet and a huge Amish-style barn. Perfectly located within an easy walk to the Eno River and Easley Elementary, the house is now priced at $147,900.

For more information, pictures and video, visit:

http://www.postlets.com/repb/4950399

Come by our Open House this Sunday or call for a private showing at your convenience:

Lisa Dye Janes

ljanes@markthomasrealty.com

Cell/VM- (919) 423-3463

WEICHERT, REALTORS® – Mark Thomas Properties

3901 University Drive

Durham, NC 27707

Office- (919) 403-5315

Fax- 919-287-2349

New Stephen's Lane Listing Was Builder's Custom Home

My sellers at 5124 Stephens Lane have decided to put their classic 1967 Colonial two-story back on the market after taking it off just before Christmas. This home is now priced to sell at $249,000. 


Straddling the North Durham neighborhoods of Stephens Woods and Oakdale, this four-bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 2,485 sq.ft., two-car garage home has a beautifully-landscaped, 2.4-acre lot with a fenced backyard. You couldn't ask for a quieter and more private location. 


Having been a builder's custom home, the homeowners have kept the house in pristine condition with many of the updates made last summer. These include: new vinyl and carpet floor coverings; freshly-painted interior walls using quality Sherwin Williams exterior paint with a 25-year warranty; a new roof with 35-year architectural shingles that have a 15-year, mold-resistance warranty; new gutters and downspouts; and roof decking that was built with tongue-and-groove boards. All 33 of the windows have been replaced with PlyGem, low-energy vinyl windows. The house has new storm doors with glass and screens; and new garage doors with new electric garage-door openers. There is a porch room on the back with new hardiplank siding. 


To view digital photos of the house visit our Postlets web site at:
http://www.postlets.com/repb/4148929


For a private showing of this immaculate home, feel free to give me a call or email at:


Lisa Dye Janes
ljanes@markthomasrealty.com
Cell/VM- (919) 423-3463
WEICHERT, REALTORS® – Mark Thomas Properties
3901 University Drive
Durham, NC 27707
Office- (919) 403-5315
Fax- 919-287-2349

"Your Older House Specialist"

1012 Wells Street… Be a Part of Its History

What truly gives an older home its character are the stories and the photos from the families who have lived there in the past. When the Markham family heard that the present owners of 1012 Wells St were putting their charming 1950s Forest Hills Cape Cod on the market, the Markhams wanted to share their memories of what it was like living in on Wells Street in the 1950s and 60s. So now we can pass along a part of its history to the future homeowners of 1012 Wells Street.

But before I take you back in time, first take a quick look at the web site we have set up to sell the house and see what the house looks like now:

http://www.postlets.com/repb/5337596

Now let’s listen to what Sam Markham remembers about the house: “We moved in Oct. of 1954, (after) my parents had the house built; (and) we moved away in 1968. My parents would both have been 34-years-old when we moved into the house and almost 48 when we left in July 1968.” (The current lady of the house was 34 when she moved in!)

Sam Markham lived at 1012 Wells Street until 1968  

The Markham grandparents lived next door at 1010 Wells St and Sam’s parents wanted to live nearby so the three generations could enjoy each other.


“We had a fun life in that little house,” Markham said. “People today wouldn't get that a family of five could live in such small quarters (which has 1,535 sq.ft. of space, three bedrooms and two bathrooms). We wouldn't have had it any other way. Even though Jack is nine years older than me, we shared that little bunk room. Our initials were carved into the built-in desk (Those bunk beds and the desk have been removed and the current owners are now using this bedroom as their office).

Broock Markham and her Mama "Dolly."

“Broocks's room had wallpaper and with little pink flowers, curtains and dust ruffle to match,” Markham said. “She had a pink telephone (with) a party line that we loved to play pranks on.” (That bedroom is still pink! Take a look at the photos of the bedroom belonging to the daughter living in the house now).


The room at the back of the house that the current owners are using as their dining room (the red room on the web site) served as the Markhams’ den. It was a popular hangout back in the early days since it had the only air conditioner in the house (a window unit, of course) and a black-and-white TV where the Markham kids and their friends watched their favorite television programs such as: “Howdy Doody, Roy Rogers, Sky King and Captain Kangaroo.” (The house now has a brand-new gas pack and central air conditioning system; and the TV is no longer in a very conspicuous place).


When there was private adult talk going on, it usually took place behind closed doors in the den downstairs, Markham explained. But he and his siblings could hear every word that was being said by lying flat on the upstairs hall floor and listening through the heat return in the hall closet.


The large walk-in closets upstairs proved to be the perfect place for the boys to play "fort" in their room and Broocks to play “house” in hers. On summer nights, the Markham children and their friends from the neighborhood would play cops and robbers on their bicycles and "Mother may I" on the stepping stones of the front-walk. One time, Sam and his cousin, Charles, even set the woods behind their house on fire while they were playing with matches.


During the winters on Saturdays, their mother would fix a big pancake breakfast. But that they weren’t allowed to eat a bite until around 10:30, when their grandparents would come from next door. Sam said the family would sit around the table for hours and have a grand time. They used the area in the living room next to the kitchen as their dining area.

At left, is Jack Markham with mother and brother at Wells St.

In the early 1960s, Sam remembers his mother and his brother making a brick patio outside the kitchen door (there’s still a private brick patio located there now). It had a privacy fence surrounding it and the family enjoyed cooking out and drinking gallons of their mother’s “famous tea-lemonade.”


There was a Victrola record player that sat on a table behind the front door and everyone in the family loved playing their favorite music. The parents were classical music buffs and loved the Big Band souns of their younger days.


But the Markham kids were into Motown and they kicked the entry-way rug back and danced the finish off of the hardwood floors,” Markham reminisced. (Those beautiful floors have been completely refinished now).


“I know we infected the walls of that house with lots of love that I hope has transcended the years,” Sam said.

Walk to the Eno River & to Easley Elementary from Hideaway Lane

1827 Hideaway Lane, Durham, NC 27712

I just put a great house in my North Durham neighborhood on the market at 1827 Hideaway Lane. Located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac street, you can walk to the Eno River and to Easley Elementary School from this house, which is just one street over from where I live. These are just some of the many reasons why we love living in Heritage Heights!


I’ll be conducting an Open House there tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. So be sure to come by, tour this wonderful two-story traditional, and see our great neighborhood for yourself. The house has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, 1350 sq.ft. and is priced at $153,500.


You’ll love the cozy living room fireplace with gas logs featuring an attractive mantelpiece with custom shelving. Just off the living room is a separate dining room with a large bay window that lets in lots of light. A large, private deck, perfect for barbecuing 365-days a year, is just off the deck. The modern kitchen has easy-to clean, gleaming white cabinetry with a large pantry that offers lots of storage space. If you enjoy outdoor living, the great .43-acre lot is for you! There is an outdoor storage closet for all of your yard equipment and a huge Amish-style barn.

For more information, pictures and video, click here:

If you are unable to attend tomorrow’s Open House and would like a private tour of this wonderful home, feel free to contact me directly. My contact information is:

Lisa Dye Janes
Ljanes@markthomasrealty.com
Mobile: 919-423-3463
Office- (919) 403-5315
WEICHERT, REALTORS® – Mark Thomas Properties
3901 University Drive
Durham, NC 27707






ncOlderhouse.blogspot.com

More on the McCraken-Mize House…

…the sellers of the McCraken-Mize House (the trustees of Calvary United Methodist Church) continue to lower the sales price, which is now at $152,500. Additional land is also available to purchase.


This beautiful Victorian Queen Anne with original stained-glass windows at 210 E. Trinity Ave. is an important historic Durham property. (Check out my Oct. 20 journal entry: "The Historic McCracken-Mize has many fans" ). This historic property was the recipient of Preservation Durham’s Pyne Award in 1981 and qualifies for the Historic Tax Credits. To learn more about the state’s historic tax credit program, visit: http://ncolderhouse.blogspot.com/search?q=state+tax+credits


The church trustees say the best offers will be accompanied by a detailed explanation of the renovation plans of the buyers. The church is open to estimates of renovations vs selling price, but they will only consider “as is” offers and will not be responsible for any repairs. All buyers are advised to submit a cover letter with their offers. The church leaders say they will be reasonable because they wish to welcome their new neighbors and to be great neighbors themselves.


I share all of this with you, not because I represent the sellers; but because I would like to offer my services to you as a buyer’s agent who specializes in historic properties. Nothing would make me happier than to find just the right owner for this fine Victorian Queen… someone who could lovingly preserve her gothic, detailed angles; and renovate her diagonaled walls with bays of decorative pendant brackets.


With 11+ years of real estate brokerage experience, I would be happy to assist you in the acquisition of this fine home. So contact me right at away for your own private showing of the McCraken-Mize House or any other historic property. My contact information is

Lisa Dye Janes

"Your Older House Specialist"

Lisa Dye Janes
ljanes@markthomasrealty.com
Cell/VM- (919) 423-3463
WEICHERT, REALTORS® – Mark Thomas Properties
3901 University Drive
Durham, NC 27707
Office- (919) 403-5315
Fax- 919-287-2349
MarkThomasProperties.com

Price reduction on McCracken-Mize house

I just received word that the asking price has been reduced by $10,000 on the McCracken-Mize House at 210 E. Trinity Ave. in Durham. The house is now listed at $162,500. Here is a link to the web site that some of the Old North Durham neighbors put together on the house:
http://www.mccracken-mize-house.com/index.html

If you would like a private tour of this remarkable old home (check out my Oct. 20 journal entry: "The Historic McCracken-Mize has many fans" ), get in touch with me right at away. My contact information is:

Lisa Dye Janes
"Your Older House Specialist"

Lisa Dye Janes
ljanes@markthomasrealty.com
Cell/VM- (919) 423-3463
WEICHERT, REALTORS® – Mark Thomas Properties
3901 University Drive
Durham, NC 27707
Office- (919) 403-5315
Fax- 919-287-2349
MarkThomasProperties.com