Theme Day: Local History

Oberlin Rising.

The installation is new, but it is a monument to the history of Oberlin Village, one of a small number of freedmen's villages near Raleigh

(See here for a timeline. )  Today Oberlin village is close to the heart of Raleigh itself and is in transision as gentrification takes over.

The community is still strong and holding on to their history.

 

The Reverend Plummer T Hall house

 Reverent Plummer T Hall was born into slavery in 1849.  By 1875 he was a student at Shaw University.  He became the first minister of the Oberlin Baptist Church.  He built this house in 1877 when he married Della Mallory.  It is now the headquarters of Preservation NC.  (see here)

 

Oberlin Village

The Graves-Fields House, built in 1885 by Willis M and Elenore Hinton Graves, both formerly enslaved, sits on Oberlin Road.  It has been moved from it's original location and restored by Preservation NC. 

  Oberlin Village began before the end of the civil war as a freedman's village.  It was named after Oberlin College, the alma mater of the founder of the village, James H. Harris.  The village has been annexed and surrounded by Raleigh, but the community is still working to keep the heritage alive.  (see here)

 

Snoopy

"Snoopy"  is one of the last remaining sculptures by a plasterer named George Morris.  After retirment he began creating large fanciful sculptures that he set around on his farm.  After his death, the farm was sold and Preservation NC moved the pink dog to a place on Oberlin road.

(See here for more of the story.)

 

Is Bigger Better?

This neighborhood began with modest sized houses.  It has become "gentrified"  and it seems residents are unwilling to live in the modest originals.

This house for instance started life as the small part in front, added a wing in back and then another, and then a whole nother house!

This one added wings on both sides.

This one started its life as a large house, and then grew again!