Oxford Historic District Walking Tour (College Street) Preview

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (140 College Street)

In the Journal of the Convention of 1821 it is stated that the diocesan missionary, “Mr. Thomas Wright, held services twice in Oxford during the summer of 1820.”St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church was founded in 1823 in Oxford, North Carolina. The first sanctuary was built in 1832, and the current sanctuary was completed in 1902 at a cost of $12,000.

Edwards-Cannady House (200 College Street)

Built by Colonel Leonidis Edwards, An attorney and also the Recording Clerk for the Secessionist Congress of 1861 where terms for NC withdrawing from the Union were agreed upon. The home had a detached kitchen until 1925.

Edwards Law Practice) 204 College Street

This small structure seems dwarfed by the large scale architecture on the block but it was actually CO. Edwards Law Practice.

Hundley-White House "The Villa" (208 College Street)

The mansard roof characterized by its 4 sided gambrel design is highlighted by the three story tower that sits central to the home. It is one of only 3 French Second Empire homes in Oxford. It was built by Geroge Hundley and was one of the earliest "Tourist Houses" in Oxford. The B&B industry would be proud of this masterpiece of design. In addition to these details, there ar eonly two other homes that were constructed of 19th century bricks still standing. One other one is on our Main Street tour.

Stark-Mayes House (210 College Street)

Dr. Roy Noblin House (222 College Street)

John Ellington House (224 College Street)

John Ellington House - The final of our three Colonial Revivals features a brick façade. Structures are typically two stories with the ridge pole running parallel to the street, have a symmetrical front facade with an accented doorway, and evenly spaced windows on either side of it.

St. Stephens Episcopal Rectory (302 College Street)

St. Stephens Episcopal Rectory - This became the current rectory for St. Stephens in 1923. Located at the northeast corner of College and Rectory streets, this two-story, side-gabled Colonial Revival-style house is three bays wide and double-pile. It has plain weatherboards, vinyl six-over-one wood-sash windows (arranged as tripartite windows on the first-floor façade) and two interior brickchimneys. An eighteen-light French door, centered on the facade, has twelve-light sidelights and is sheltered by a front-gabled porch with paired Tuscan columns supporting a wide entablature and partial gable returns.

St. Stephens Episcopal Rectory - First Home Constructed (109 Rectory Street)

St. Stephens Episcopal Rectory - This home was the first home constructed in Oxford following the Civil War. In 1867 during the South's Reconstruction Period . In 1867 the Congress place NC under military ruke in the 2nd Military District. For the next 10 years the actions of North Carolinians was monitored to ensure their compliance with the 14th Amendment giving full citizenship to African-Americans. The cost of construction was $900 which folowing the war would have been a significant amount of money.

CD Ray House (404 College Street)

CD Ray House - Clearly the most dramatic example of a Classical Revival home in Oxford and perhaps the most photographed home in Oxford. It was built in 1911 by Mr. Ray who was in the lumber business. The original front of the home did not include the massive classical pillars and expansive front porch, and upon entry to the foyer you are actually on the original front proch of the home. There appears to be a very young "spirit" that remains in the home and who is entertained by frequently moving items around on the occupants. There are also bricks that were handmade for the home that actually have small handprints still in them. We wonder if in fact that is the child who is still mischeifly playing around her home.

Col. Roger O. Gregory House (414 College Street)

Fringed arched stick work, complete with dangling pendant decorate the gables. The two story structure was built by Col Roger Gregory.

Abner N. Jones House (419 College Street)

Abner N. Jones built this residence shortly after 1857. Jones died in 1865, and his wife, the former Emiy Philpot, died the following year. Inherited by their descendants, the house was sold in 1872 to Dr. Z.M. Pachall. It is a two-story, hip-roofed, Greek Revival-style house which was updated in 1880 with Italianate-style details.

MHCO Trades, The School

MHCO was designed to not only provide less fortunate and orphaned children with an education, they also taught them a trade. The School included a working farm which provided all of their food needs, an electrical shop, sewing shop, and print shop.

Crews-Turner House (709 College Street)

This is one of many varied bungalows and Period Revival cottages built by Walter Crews. Hubert Turner ran the meat market in Oxford and bought the home. The two story brick veneer home has an expansive porch and a port cochere - both prominent elements of the Bungalow style.

Hundley-Cannady House (517 College Street)

Hundley-Cannady House - Built by Mr. John Hundley in the 1880's. He lived in this Eastlake style home until 1898 when he sold it to Mary Cannady for $3025. The Eastlake style features a wide variety of geometric and chevron patterns on the exterior and elaborate porch details.

Dorsey-Brown-Floyd House (513 College Street)

Dorsey-Brown-Floyd House - The Italianate features are seen in the decorative brackets around the porch, tall narrow windows with curved tops.

AA Hicks House (503 College Street)

AA Hicks House - One of the grandest Neo-Classical Revival style residences, it was built in 1903 for Oxford attorney AA Hicks. His wife ran a private school on the second floor of the residence. About 1950 it was acquired by Dr. Sam Carrington and used as a clinic. Its current use as a funeral home began in 1962. This business is the only commercial property in any of our Historic Districts.

Watkins House (217 College Street)

Watkins House - Tow tiered porch with a one story wraparound porch. This home is has been abandoned and is a perfect example of one of the most important tasks of our local Historic Preservation Commission. Explain Preservation NC role in saving this home.

Erwin-Baird House (209 College Street)

Erwin-Baird House - Mr. Erwin was president of Oxford Cotton Mill. His son died unexpectedly of appendicitis and Mr. Erwin left Oxford quickly thereafter. In 1910 It was purchased by NN Cupp and then in 1922 he sold it to Joseph Baird. Mr. Baird owned and operate done of Oxford's hardware stores, just a block down where we started our walk. Baird's Hardware remained in operation from the 20's through the late 1990's.

Taylor-McClanahan-Smith House (203 College Street)

Taylor-McClanahan- Smith House - Most likely built between around 1825 by Dr William Taylor of Yorktown, VA. He served in the War of 1812 as an assistant surgeon. He was also on Oxford's first Board of Commissioners. He and his wife Frances had 14 children - no wonder the large home. In 1843 it became the home of Brig Gen William McClanahan. Four years later when his daughter married he gave her this home and moved across the street. The home changed owners several more times before being purchased in 1986 by Dorothy Armento who began a restoration of the home. In 2010 following her death, her son Tony Armento acquired the home and continued a comprehensive restoration to the property that is still ongoing today.

Mary Potter School

Opened by Dr. George Clayton Shaw as an outgrowth of his church ministry at Timothy Darling Presbyterian Church. A benefactor of the school its namesake Mrs. Mary Potter was a white woman who was sympathetic to the blacks in the south and played a significant role in the establishment of the school. The school campus began at the corner of New College and McClanahan. On campus were a number of dorms, academic classrooms, a shop and gymnasium. The curriculum included life skills, trades, and academics. The school is now a middle school operated by the County.

Shaw Museum

Open for tours. This spacious brick bungalow was built in 1921 for Dr. George Clayton Shaw (1863-1933) and Mary E. Shaw (1874-1952). Dr. George C. Shaw, a prominent black educator born in Louisburg in adjoining Franklin County, was one of the founders of the Mary Potter School in 1892 and served as its first principal until his death in 1933. He constructed his house across the street from the former site of the Mary Potter School, though only the shop and gymnasium remain standing. Following her husband’s death, Mrs. Shaw continued her active association with the institution, the 1929 gymnasium (205 Lanier Street) having been named for her.