Monday, November 23, 2020

Whitehall Terrace

Willthacheerleader18: /* History */ added link


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'''Whitehall Terrace''', also known as the '''Richard H. Wright II House''' is a [[Colonial Revival architecture|Colonial Revival]] mansion in [[Durham, North Carolina]]. Completed in 1929, it was built for businessman Richard H. Wright II and his wife, Mary Scalon Wright. Whitehall Terrace was one of the first houses constructed on the north side of Durham's Duke Park neighborhood. Recognized as a historic landmark by the Durham City-County Planning Department and the Durham Architectural and Historic Inventory, it was included in Duke Park's nomination to the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

== History ==
[[File:Whitehall_Terrace.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Whitehall Terrace in 2020]]
Whitehall Terrace was commissioned in the 1920s by businessman Richard H. Wright II.<ref name= opendurham>https://ift.tt/2Hu8X4q name= preservation>https://ift.tt/2J1MxYY> The son of Thomas Davenport Wright and Elizabeth Wright, a socialite who founded the [[Debutante Cotillion and Christmas Ball of Durham]], he was the president of the Wright Real Estate Company.<ref name= opendurham/><ref>https://ift.tt/398Slum> A prominent businessman, Wright was also the president and treasurer of the Allenton Company, vice president of the Southern Fire Insurance Company, director of the Randolph Cotton Mills, vice president of the Public Hardware Company, president and director of the Durham Telephone Company, director of the [[Durham Bank and Trust Company]], director of Family Service Incorporated, and a trustee of [[Louisburg College]].<ref name= opendurham/> A [[gentleman farmer]], he also operated the 1500-acre Snow Hill Farm at [[Stagville|Stagville Plantation]].<ref name= open/> Wright had inherited the land from his uncle, tobacco and utilities magnate Richard H. Wright, and was responsible for much of the development of the Duke Park neighborhood.<ref name= open>https://ift.tt/2UV5tel name= ncgov/> Construction on Whitehall Terrace began in the 1920s and was completed in 1929.<ref name= preservation/>

The house was designed by architect George Watts Carr.<ref name= ncgov/><ref name= opendurham/> Noted for its similarity to [[Mount Vernon]], it has been considered one of the most elaborate examples of Colonial Revival architecture in Durham and, at the time it was built, was the largest home in the neighborhood.<ref name= open/><ref name= ncgov/><ref name= opendurham/> It is located on the corner of Markham Street and Knox Street in the affluent Duke Park neighborhood, a suburb of downtown [[Durham, North Carolina|Durham]].<ref name= preservation/><ref>https://ift.tt/398F3ht name= ncgov/> Built in the [[Colonial Revival architecture|Colonial Revival style]], featuring a symmetrical façade and two-story [[portico]], it was one of the first houses on the north end of the Duke Park.<ref name= preservation/><ref name= ncgov/> The architecture includes [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] cornices and molded lintels above the French doors opening onto the front patio.<ref name= ncgov/> The entrance has a curved pediment decorated with modillions and foliate plasterwork.<ref name= ncgov/> The central hall leads to a large porch and [[parterre]] overlooking Mangum Street.<ref name= opendurham/> On the south side of the house is a music room, formal living room, library, and a swimming pool and terrace.<ref name= opendurham/> On the north side of the house is a formal dining room, sitting room, and breakfast room.<ref name= opendurham/> A small guest house is also located on the property.<ref name= ncgov/> The garage is connected to the main house by a curved arcade.<ref name= ncgov/> Additions were made in 1940, including a new kitchen on the ground floor and more bedrooms upstairs, which doubled the size of the house to 6,000 square feet.<ref name= opendurham/>

Wright lived in the home with his wife Mary Scanlon Wright, the daughter of the minister of First Presbyterian Church, and their three daughters, Turissa, Elizabeth, and Mary.<ref name= opendurham/> The wedding of their daughter, Elizabeth, and French anesthesiologist Michael Bourgeois-Gavardin took place at Whitehall Terrace in the 1950s.<ref>https://ift.tt/2HsYDcS name= opendurham/>

On July 4, 1980 Whitehall Terrace was severely damaged in a fire.<ref name= opendurham/><ref name= ncgov/> Wright and his wife died from injuries sustained after leaping out of their second-story bedroom window to escape the flames.<ref name= opendurham/> The house passed to their daughters, who sold the property in 1981.<ref name= opendurham/> Extensive restorations began after the sale.<ref name= opendurham/> In 2004, Whitehall Terrace was featured as the designer show house of the [[Junior League|Junior League of Durham and Orange Counties]].<ref name= opendurham/> The Junior League provided interior designers to redo the house, including Kate Strobl, Linda Dickerson, Dan Addison, Anne Aulbert, Stewart Woodard, and Minta Bell.<ref name= opendurham/> In 2005 the sitting room, kitchen, and butler's pantry were redone by interior design firm Betsy Ross Design.<ref>https://ift.tt/3m0Pesd>

Whitehall Terrace is considered a historic landmark by the Durham City-County Planning Department and was included in Duke Park's nomination to the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>https://ift.tt/2UTDEmy name= ncgov>https://ift.tt/2UT06w7> It received a citation of excellence in 1930 from the North Carolina Chapter of the [[American Institute of Architects]].<ref name= opendurham/><ref name= architects/> The house was included in the Durham Architectural and Historic Inventory in 1982.<ref name= architects>https://ift.tt/2JacG7B> In 1991 Whitehall Terrace was awarded the the Pyne Preservation Award by the Preservation Society of Durham and, in 2011, it was included in the society's house tour.<ref name= opendurham/>

In 2016 Wade Marlette, a retired professor at [[North Carolina Central University]] and owner of Whitehall Terrace, opened the home for a fundraising reception to benefit the Durham and Piedmont Deanery of [[Catholic Charities USA]].<ref>https://ift.tt/33cu8Ql>

== References ==


[[Category:Colonial Revival architecture in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Houses completed in 1929]]
[[Category:Houses in Durham, North Carolina]]


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