Displaying a type popular in the early to mid-twentieth century, this replica of George Washington’s home in Virginia is roughly two-thirds the size of the original. It stands on a large, formally treated lot that extends through the block and thus presents two different facades to two parallel streets—a small entrance facing Harvey Street and a classic “Mount Vernon” portico overlooking Holt Drive and a small linear park suitably called “Potomac Park.” The grandeur of the house captured newspaper writers’ attention and set a tone for Hayes Barton as well as establishing James A. Davidson as a premier builder.

The reference to heroic historical antecedents well suited a wealthy family with long roots in North Carolina. The house was built for Albert Lyman Cox, son of famed Confederate officer William R. Cox and himself a World War I hero, attorney, politician, and entrepreneur, and his wife, the former Arabel Nash of an extended Tarboro family that included Episcopal bishop Joseph Blount Cheshire. Arabel was also the sister-in-law of leading Wilmingtonian James Lawrence Sprunt, husband of her sister, Annie Gray Nash. Albert and Arabel Cox, who married in 1909, had resided on Raleigh’s North Blount Street and on Hillsborough Street before moving to Hayes Barton.

The construction date is defined by articles in the News and Observer. The issue of August 3, 1922 reported on recent building permits, including one for the $45,000 residence of Albert Cox, which far exceeded all others listed, none of which was for more than $10,000. The house was completed within a year: the News and Observer of July 1, 1923, reported that Mrs. Albert Cox had recently entertained in “her home in Haynes-Barton [sic].” The United States Census of 1930 listed Albert and Arabel and their five children at the residence, with the value of Cox’s real estate noted as $60,000. In the early 1930s, Cox lost the property, which had been mortgaged. (Similar fates befell a number of the owners of the fine houses in Hayes Barton.) The family moved to Washington, D. C., and Albert Cox served as commander of the National Guard. “Mount Vernon” was acquired by Alfred Williams, of Alfred Williams and Company, a third-generation book and stationer’s store that later became a large office outfitter. The house is generally associated with Williams and his family.

Note: Davidson and Jones Archives, private collection; News and Observer, various issues.

Davidson and Jones Archives; Hayes Barton Historic District National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, 2002.

Dr. Hart came to Duke as head of surgery and later became president of Duke University. In recent years the large Tudor Revival residence has been the home of Duke President Richard Brodhead. The architect for the house has been identified both as Nelson and Cooper and Nelson alone. Records of its construction are in Dr. Hart’s papers at Duke University.

The Georgian Revival style brick house is a member of the group of nearby Daniels family houses.

The architects and builder of this classic 2-story, red brick Georgian Revival house are cited in the Hayes Barton National Register nomination. A Julian Rand project is cited in the Satterfield building list. Julian and Lillian Rand, longtime residents of Ferndell Lane (near Maiden Lane and State College) first appeared at 1544 Carr Street house in the 1932 city directory.

Ross Edward Shumaker designed the building’s east balconies.

Nelson and Cooper’s blueprints, dated 1929, for the Nathaniel A. Dunn House are in the Coffey Family Papers, Special Collections Research Center, NCSU Libraries. It is a characteristic example of the Georgian Revival style residences prevalent in Hayes Barton. The blueprints are the only set by Nelson and Cooper identified thus far.

Pullen Memorial Baptist Church is a fully developed example of Romanesque Revival church architecture, rare in the state and notable for its strong massing and intricate brickwork. The congregation had met in a mission church at the south end of Fayetteville Street in central Raleigh for several years, but after that church burned, the congregation moved to this location near present North Carolina State University in west Raleigh. Aimed at the students at the college as well as other citizens, the $65,000 structure was built with more than 40 Sunday school rooms. Source: Davidson and Jones Archives; News & Observer, Jan. 1, 1922. This issue of the News and Observer carried a lengthy story about the proposed church and its architects (though not the builder) and featured a large drawing of it.

The 1-story, ranch type house was one of the first modernist houses in Raleigh. It was designed by the young architect Rufus H. Nims (1913-2005) as his own residence, when Nims, a 1934 graduate of present North Carolina State University, was working for Cooper. Nims moved to Florida in 1943, developed a highly respected practice, and stayed there for the rest of his long life. Source: trianglemodernisthouses.com.

Further research is required to ascertain the authorship of this substantial dormitory. It has been credited to Nelson and Cooper with the original section described as built in 1916 plus additions in 1922, which have been cited to Hobart Upjohn. It is unlikely that Nelson or Nelson and Cooper were involved in the 1916 portion, since their partnership was not formed until 1920 or 1921, and there is no record of Nelson’s presence in Raleigh as early as 1916.

Source: Davidson and Jones Archives, private collection

Blueprints, specifications, and contractor bills for the “Mr. and Mrs. Walter Noneman Residence” are in the Thomas W. Cooper Collection, Special Collections Research Center, NCSU Libraries. The architect’s specifications noted that the “masonry work shall be done by a skilled mechanic capable of mixing the stone and brick as shown” in the drawings. Contractor James A. Davidson was a leading Raleigh builder for many years. Bills for work and materials for the brick and stone house include numerous local and regional firms such as Baker-Rawls Roofing, Carolina Builders, Cherokee Brick, Dillon Supply, Martin Millwork, and Peden Steel. W. L. and Violet Louise Noneman came to Raleigh from Albuquerque, N. M., for him to open the Occidental Life Insurance Company. The family worked closely with the architect to plan the residence for comfort and convenience. The well-preserved house has remained in the family.