Historic Oakwood
Encyclopedia
Historic Oakwood is a neighborhood in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina
, United States
, on the National Register of Historic Places
, and known for its Historic Oakwood Cemetery
, its many Victorian
houses and its location close to the Mordecai Plantation Manor. Located near the Governor's Mansion
and the State Capitol
, during the 19th century Historic Oakwood was home to prominent members of Raleigh's society. Oakwood is also well known for its Christmas Candlelight Tour, which opens private historic residences to the public, and the Garden Tour, which allows the public to see the vast gardens worked on by the Oakwood Gardening Club.
. The neighborhood was built in the dense woods of Northeast Raleigh known as “Mordecai Grove” and sold off in parcels after the American Civil War
to individuals and developers such as Col. J. M. Heck, Richard Stanhope Pullen, W. C. and A. B. Stronach, and Thomas H. Briggs. The great variety of Victorian architectural styles represented in the neighborhood reflects the middle-class tastes of the business and political leaders of Raleigh for whom they were built, as well as the skill of local architects and builders.
Following World War I
, as the automobile came into general use and fashionable neighborhoods developed in Raleigh's outskirts, second generation Oakwood residents moved away. Many of the large residences became boarding or apartment houses. This depressed economic state preserved the houses from destructive modernization, but not from deterioration. By 1970 the area appeared destined for urban renewal. In 1970 and 1971, however, the rehabilitation of several houses sparked a general neighborhood revitalization. The announcement in 1972 of a major thoroughfare through the heart of the neighborhood united residents, and the Society for the Preservation of Historic Oakwood, a non-profit corporation, was formed. The thoroughfare plan was thwarted and the neighborhood revitalization continues.
As you walk through the neighborhood, you can notice the trends in architecture reflecting individual tastes throughout the years as well as features common to most houses built in this Southern climate. About the time of the Civil War, the Neo-Classical
style of architecture was popular. This style was patterned after the ancient Greek temples with their large heavy columns topped with ornate capitals. The 70's saw a trend to a style “imported” from France, the Second Empire, a pompous style typified by Mansard roofs. Coming into the 80's and 90's the Victorians looked to England for a new type of architecture, the Queen Anne style. Queen Anne architecture sought to delight the eye with contrasting elevations, uses of texture and color, and free “romantic” forms. After the Chicago Exhibition of 1893, architecture saw a reversion back to the historic styles of the Greeks and Romans in the Neo-Classical Revival style. The architects were once again striving for correctness of form and symmetry.
Although most of the homes in Oakwood reflect individual tastes and differences in architecture, there are many common denominators. The architectural styles were modified for a Southern climate. Better than ninety percent of the houses have at least one porch. The roofs have a deep pitch in order to form large attics for added insulation. Latticework appears on rear service porches and under the houses to maintain circulation of air on warm summer days.
There are, other interesting features to watch for in a walk through the neighborhood. Low walls, sometimes of granite, on the property lines of many houses were used to demarcate the property Some of the homes still retain the blue porch ceilings to resemble the sky and, according to Southern folklore, to scare flies away. The transoms and sidelights seen often on the homes, were methods of lighting the hallways before electricity. Decorative and unusual vents in the attics were also a reflection of the individual tastes of Victorian homeowners.
Oakwood is now one of Raleigh's tourist attractions. In recognition of Oakwood's importance as a valuable tangible reminder of Southern urban life during the 19th and 20th centuries, the neighborhood has been listed as an historic district in the National Register of Historic Places.
The City of Raleigh designated Oakwood as its first local historic district in 1974 to ensure that the physical charm and special character of the neighborhood is maintained. As part of the local historic district designation, all exterior changes are subject to design review by the Raleigh Historic Districts Commission.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, and known for its Historic Oakwood Cemetery
Historic Oakwood Cemetery
Historic Oakwood Cemetery was founded in 1869 in Raleigh, North Carolina near the North Carolina State Capitol in Historic Oakwood. Historic Oakwood Cemetery contains two special areas within its , the Confederate Cemetery, located on the original two and one-half acres , and the Hebrew Cemetery,...
, its many Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
houses and its location close to the Mordecai Plantation Manor. Located near the Governor's Mansion
North Carolina Executive Mansion
The North Carolina Executive Mansion is the official residence of the Governor of North Carolina and his or her family. Building began in the year 1883 and it was designed by noted architects Samuel Sloan and A.G. Bauer. The first occupants, Governor Daniel G. Fowle and his family, moved into the...
and the State Capitol
North Carolina State Capitol
The North Carolina State Capitol is the main house of government of the U.S. state of North Carolina. Housing the offices of the Governor of North Carolina, it is located in the state capital of Raleigh on Union Square at One East Edenton Street. The cornerstone of the Greek Revival building was...
, during the 19th century Historic Oakwood was home to prominent members of Raleigh's society. Oakwood is also well known for its Christmas Candlelight Tour, which opens private historic residences to the public, and the Garden Tour, which allows the public to see the vast gardens worked on by the Oakwood Gardening Club.
History
Oakwood is the only intact nineteenth century neighborhood in Raleigh, North CarolinaRaleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
. The neighborhood was built in the dense woods of Northeast Raleigh known as “Mordecai Grove” and sold off in parcels after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
to individuals and developers such as Col. J. M. Heck, Richard Stanhope Pullen, W. C. and A. B. Stronach, and Thomas H. Briggs. The great variety of Victorian architectural styles represented in the neighborhood reflects the middle-class tastes of the business and political leaders of Raleigh for whom they were built, as well as the skill of local architects and builders.
Following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, as the automobile came into general use and fashionable neighborhoods developed in Raleigh's outskirts, second generation Oakwood residents moved away. Many of the large residences became boarding or apartment houses. This depressed economic state preserved the houses from destructive modernization, but not from deterioration. By 1970 the area appeared destined for urban renewal. In 1970 and 1971, however, the rehabilitation of several houses sparked a general neighborhood revitalization. The announcement in 1972 of a major thoroughfare through the heart of the neighborhood united residents, and the Society for the Preservation of Historic Oakwood, a non-profit corporation, was formed. The thoroughfare plan was thwarted and the neighborhood revitalization continues.
As you walk through the neighborhood, you can notice the trends in architecture reflecting individual tastes throughout the years as well as features common to most houses built in this Southern climate. About the time of the Civil War, the Neo-Classical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
style of architecture was popular. This style was patterned after the ancient Greek temples with their large heavy columns topped with ornate capitals. The 70's saw a trend to a style “imported” from France, the Second Empire, a pompous style typified by Mansard roofs. Coming into the 80's and 90's the Victorians looked to England for a new type of architecture, the Queen Anne style. Queen Anne architecture sought to delight the eye with contrasting elevations, uses of texture and color, and free “romantic” forms. After the Chicago Exhibition of 1893, architecture saw a reversion back to the historic styles of the Greeks and Romans in the Neo-Classical Revival style. The architects were once again striving for correctness of form and symmetry.
Although most of the homes in Oakwood reflect individual tastes and differences in architecture, there are many common denominators. The architectural styles were modified for a Southern climate. Better than ninety percent of the houses have at least one porch. The roofs have a deep pitch in order to form large attics for added insulation. Latticework appears on rear service porches and under the houses to maintain circulation of air on warm summer days.
There are, other interesting features to watch for in a walk through the neighborhood. Low walls, sometimes of granite, on the property lines of many houses were used to demarcate the property Some of the homes still retain the blue porch ceilings to resemble the sky and, according to Southern folklore, to scare flies away. The transoms and sidelights seen often on the homes, were methods of lighting the hallways before electricity. Decorative and unusual vents in the attics were also a reflection of the individual tastes of Victorian homeowners.
Oakwood is now one of Raleigh's tourist attractions. In recognition of Oakwood's importance as a valuable tangible reminder of Southern urban life during the 19th and 20th centuries, the neighborhood has been listed as an historic district in the National Register of Historic Places.
The City of Raleigh designated Oakwood as its first local historic district in 1974 to ensure that the physical charm and special character of the neighborhood is maintained. As part of the local historic district designation, all exterior changes are subject to design review by the Raleigh Historic Districts Commission.
See also
- Historic Oakwood CemeteryHistoric Oakwood CemeteryHistoric Oakwood Cemetery was founded in 1869 in Raleigh, North Carolina near the North Carolina State Capitol in Historic Oakwood. Historic Oakwood Cemetery contains two special areas within its , the Confederate Cemetery, located on the original two and one-half acres , and the Hebrew Cemetery,...
- Mordecai HouseMordecai HouseThe Mordecai House , built in 1785, is a registered historical landmark and museum in Raleigh, North Carolina that is the centerpiece of Mordecai Historic Park, right outside the Historic Oakwood neighborhood. It is the oldest residence in Raleigh on its original foundation...
- St. Mark's Chapel