To me, the evolution of Durham started with John Ruffin Green and his cured bright leaf tobacco that placed Durham on the map. Malbourne Angier, a store owner, and a passionate citizen of our city made a huge impact on expanding Durham beyond the few store fronts on Main Street. And then there is W.Continue reading “Durham History Told from the Grave”
Author Archives: Cora Darrah
A Treasure Nugget
The other day when I was in the Rubenstein Library, browsing through box 10 of 400, I came across this letter that was addressed to Richard from a company in Johannesburg, South Africa. As I was noting the incredible handwriting, and trying to understand the content, I was stunned at how far a reach thisContinue reading “A Treasure Nugget”
Why Write this Book?
My journey with my most recent book, A Story of Durham: Told the Wright Way has taken me back through time and in and out of the lives of living and deceased relatives. To be honest, my mother didn’t speak often of her great uncle and the impact he had on Durham. I guess, growingContinue reading “Why Write this Book?”
Durham in Lights
The year is 1913, and Richard Harvey Wright and Julian Carr have acquired a fifty year franchise to provide the city with electric lights and power to run the streetcars. Durham Traction Company has finally begun to see a surge in ridership and now with the license to provide power to the city, they decideContinue reading “Durham in Lights”
Hidden Women
Where did their stories go? As I have studied the men that were known to be the founding fathers of Durham, I began to wonder about the women that loomed in the shadows. We live in a different time where women can shine brightly, but in the late 1800’s, women in Durham were only knownContinue reading “Hidden Women”
1893 in Durham
The year is 1893 in Durham, North Carolina. Julian Shakespeare Carr is the president of the William T. Blackwell Company. This company, with its playful bull painted on the sides of buildings all over the United States, has dominated the industry since the early 1870’s. But there is shift in the winds. Just across theContinue reading “1893 in Durham”
Durham’s World Traveler
Below is an article published by The Herald Sun on September 11, 1911. The title is Mr. Wright Returns He is back from a trip to London Many times crosses “Richard H. Wright has returned from London where he spent a few days recently on business. This last trip abroad on one of the bigContinue reading “Durham’s World Traveler”
History in the Present
Stepping back into history has been a journey unlike anything I have ever experienced. For the last two years I have made the thirty minute car ride to Duke University where the four hundred boxes of the Richard Harvey Wright archives are stored. Before entering the Rubenstein Library, I must walk past Duke Chapel, oneContinue reading “History in the Present”
History in the Making
Writing a book can be an arduous task. For me, if I am not passionate about the subject, it can leave me without words. But, if I gravitate towards a topic that strikes a chord, I can be drawn into the process of creating something magical. If you ask me why I wanted to writeContinue reading “History in the Making”
A Step into the Past
Let’s take a trip into the past. It’s 1931 and Richard Harvey Wright has died. His two nephews, Richard Harvey Jr. and Thomas Davenport were running the Wright’s Automatic Machinery Company. They decided to move the manufacturing company to Durham where they purchased the Yarborough Hosiery Mills Building for $12,000. Given it was in theContinue reading “A Step into the Past”