About the McCracken-Mize House
In 1981, the McCracken-Mize House was awarded the Pyne Preservation Award by the Historic Preservation Society of Durham (now Preservation Durham). The home was also featured in the 2006 Preservation Durham Home Tour.
*HISTORIC UPDATE FROM THE NEW OWNERS* More soon!
Dr. James Tinnin McCracken (1868-1951) is who actually built this charming cottage in 1900 for his mother-in-law Mrs. Sarah Jane Hall and her husband Thomas Jefferson Hall on land he had purchased from Mary and Emily Geer in 1899. Both the McCrackens and the Halls lived in this home until 1900 while the McCracken residence was being built next door. Upon completion, Dr. McCracken, a dentist, and his family then lived next door at 302 East Trinity Avenue. Tragically, his wife Sarah Hassie Hall and their new baby died within days of each other just one year later, leaving Dr. McCracken with two young sons to raise. Eventually Dr. McCracken married his 2nd wife Margaret. They lived next door at 302 East Trinity Avenue before the family moved out to the country on West Club Boulevard, now in Watts Hospital-Hillandale Historic District. Their house at 302 East Trinity was moved slightly east to make way for the construction of Calvary Methodist Church in 1916 and was later demolished.
John Harris purchased 210 East Trinity in 1913 and sold it to Samuel and Zeta Mize in 1922. The Mizes raised their family here, and Mrs. Mize remained in the home for many years after her husband’s death in the early 1940’s. After their children grew up and married, they too remained in the North Durham neighborhood. Their son Troy operated a gas station at 800 North Mangum in the 1940’s.
**Much more about the home's history until this point in time with detailed supporting documents will be posted soon**
Calvary Methodist Church purchased the house from the Mize family in 1969. It was the headquarters of Neighborhood Housing Services during the 1980’s and was restored as a demonstration project intended to inspire other residents of older homes. In the mid-1990’s it was operated by Interfaith Hospitality Network as a day shelter for homeless families. After serious damage from a burst pipe in 1996, the church considered demolishing the house, but instead made repairs and today it is a residence for church interns.
*HISTORIC UPDATE FROM THE NEW OWNERS* More soon!
Dr. James Tinnin McCracken (1868-1951) is who actually built this charming cottage in 1900 for his mother-in-law Mrs. Sarah Jane Hall and her husband Thomas Jefferson Hall on land he had purchased from Mary and Emily Geer in 1899. Both the McCrackens and the Halls lived in this home until 1900 while the McCracken residence was being built next door. Upon completion, Dr. McCracken, a dentist, and his family then lived next door at 302 East Trinity Avenue. Tragically, his wife Sarah Hassie Hall and their new baby died within days of each other just one year later, leaving Dr. McCracken with two young sons to raise. Eventually Dr. McCracken married his 2nd wife Margaret. They lived next door at 302 East Trinity Avenue before the family moved out to the country on West Club Boulevard, now in Watts Hospital-Hillandale Historic District. Their house at 302 East Trinity was moved slightly east to make way for the construction of Calvary Methodist Church in 1916 and was later demolished.
John Harris purchased 210 East Trinity in 1913 and sold it to Samuel and Zeta Mize in 1922. The Mizes raised their family here, and Mrs. Mize remained in the home for many years after her husband’s death in the early 1940’s. After their children grew up and married, they too remained in the North Durham neighborhood. Their son Troy operated a gas station at 800 North Mangum in the 1940’s.
**Much more about the home's history until this point in time with detailed supporting documents will be posted soon**
Calvary Methodist Church purchased the house from the Mize family in 1969. It was the headquarters of Neighborhood Housing Services during the 1980’s and was restored as a demonstration project intended to inspire other residents of older homes. In the mid-1990’s it was operated by Interfaith Hospitality Network as a day shelter for homeless families. After serious damage from a burst pipe in 1996, the church considered demolishing the house, but instead made repairs and today it is a residence for church interns.
The exterior of the house has seen little change over the years. The fanciful turret still rises over the central gable and wide front porch, its windows decorated with colorful stained glass. The bays on the east front and the west side are embellished with unusual round windows each divided into nine petal-like panes of colored glass. The window frames are also decorated with carpenter gothic details, and the angles over the diagonal walls of the bays feature decorative pendant brackets.
The interior of the house features a wide board-and-batten paneled central hall with french doors dividing the front of the house from the back. Four large square rooms flank the hall, with 4 large fireplaces and mirrored mantels. A staircase leads from the back of the house to the upper hall, which extends into the turret at the front of the house past a bedroom and bathroom.
The twin front parlors retain their original high ceilings, hardwood floors, elaborate moldings, and pocket doors, although the back rooms that were damaged by the water leak in the mid-1990’s had to have the floors and ceilings replaced. Graduate divinity students, undeterred by the home’s dilapidated stat and encouraged by supportive parishioners, livened up the interior with fresh coats of paint and renovated the downstairs bathroom and moved its entrance moved from the hall to the bedroom.
The interior of the house features a wide board-and-batten paneled central hall with french doors dividing the front of the house from the back. Four large square rooms flank the hall, with 4 large fireplaces and mirrored mantels. A staircase leads from the back of the house to the upper hall, which extends into the turret at the front of the house past a bedroom and bathroom.
The twin front parlors retain their original high ceilings, hardwood floors, elaborate moldings, and pocket doors, although the back rooms that were damaged by the water leak in the mid-1990’s had to have the floors and ceilings replaced. Graduate divinity students, undeterred by the home’s dilapidated stat and encouraged by supportive parishioners, livened up the interior with fresh coats of paint and renovated the downstairs bathroom and moved its entrance moved from the hall to the bedroom.
Articles about the McCracken-Mize House
Want to learn more about the historic McCracken-Mize House? Read the following that appears in N.C. Insight and Family Circle magazines:
Neighborhood Housing Services - A Public-Private Partnership at Work in the Marketplace, by Brent Glass, Aug 1982, N.C. Insight
Bringing Back the Neighborhood, Family Circle, May 21, 1985
Neighborhood Housing Services - A Public-Private Partnership at Work in the Marketplace, by Brent Glass, Aug 1982, N.C. Insight
Bringing Back the Neighborhood, Family Circle, May 21, 1985
| Self-Help Projects Revitalize Community Spirit, by Bill Finger |
A historic note on the house from former UMC Church Pastor Laurie
Welllll....
You might like to know that the Durham Neighborhood Housing Services that were mentioned in the history of OND were actually housed in .... TRINITY HOUSE (aka McCracken Mize House) until October of 1995! They used to have their big sign across the front of the house that let the neighbors know that "this is the place to come to get help with reviving your home and neighborhood!" They made a considerable difference in restoring this historic area. We were proud to house them.
That winter, the church was trying to decide what to do now that the house was sitting empty. Sell it? Bulldoze it? (!!!) Move it? Rent it? I informed the Durham Congregations in Action of its availability and got MANY requests to use it as office space for non-profits. The young director of Interfaith Hospitality Network, Boo Tyson, was interviewing homeless families with children at McDonalds or the Public Library and needed space. In March 1996, Calvary's Administrative Board agreed to loan the space to IHN for both offices and a day site where children could nap, parents could type resumes and seek permanent housing, and many could shower and lunch and live until their church homes opened for overnight stays. We cherish the use of that lovely home for families that had no home.
Then in 2003 when IHN bought their own house around the corner, we were again in a position of discerning what guests God had in mind for this lovely home. We decided to invite Divinity students from Duke to dwell here while studying and watching over Calvary Church property. We were blessed by the company and ministry of three married couples, as well as three women students, all of whom have gone on to serve the global church and the academy in some beautiful ways. Their presence among us graced the Trinity House with sacred readings and book clubs, exotic cooking, music, laughter, and lots of hospitality.
In the sixteen year I have been privileged to serve Calvary Church, the McCracken-Mize/DNHS/IHN/Trinity House has given shelter to a variety of people and programs that have enhanced the value of Old North Durham and the entire Durham community.
Now it is time for a dear old friend to be raised to new life for others. I can't wait to see what beautiful new plan God has for its existence here!
Shalom.
Pastor Laurie <><
You might like to know that the Durham Neighborhood Housing Services that were mentioned in the history of OND were actually housed in .... TRINITY HOUSE (aka McCracken Mize House) until October of 1995! They used to have their big sign across the front of the house that let the neighbors know that "this is the place to come to get help with reviving your home and neighborhood!" They made a considerable difference in restoring this historic area. We were proud to house them.
That winter, the church was trying to decide what to do now that the house was sitting empty. Sell it? Bulldoze it? (!!!) Move it? Rent it? I informed the Durham Congregations in Action of its availability and got MANY requests to use it as office space for non-profits. The young director of Interfaith Hospitality Network, Boo Tyson, was interviewing homeless families with children at McDonalds or the Public Library and needed space. In March 1996, Calvary's Administrative Board agreed to loan the space to IHN for both offices and a day site where children could nap, parents could type resumes and seek permanent housing, and many could shower and lunch and live until their church homes opened for overnight stays. We cherish the use of that lovely home for families that had no home.
Then in 2003 when IHN bought their own house around the corner, we were again in a position of discerning what guests God had in mind for this lovely home. We decided to invite Divinity students from Duke to dwell here while studying and watching over Calvary Church property. We were blessed by the company and ministry of three married couples, as well as three women students, all of whom have gone on to serve the global church and the academy in some beautiful ways. Their presence among us graced the Trinity House with sacred readings and book clubs, exotic cooking, music, laughter, and lots of hospitality.
In the sixteen year I have been privileged to serve Calvary Church, the McCracken-Mize/DNHS/IHN/Trinity House has given shelter to a variety of people and programs that have enhanced the value of Old North Durham and the entire Durham community.
Now it is time for a dear old friend to be raised to new life for others. I can't wait to see what beautiful new plan God has for its existence here!
Shalom.
Pastor Laurie <><
