1223 Fayetteville Street – Earl and Ollie Baucum House

Earl and Ollie Baucum were the first homeowners of 1223 Fayetteville Street. Originally from Wadesboro, North Carolina, Earl was a brickmason for most of his life, while Ollie worked as a seamstress. Earl attended St. Joseph’s A.M.E Church, and was a member of the Doric Lodge No. 28.

The Parhams and Wilsons would go on to live in the home after the Baucoms. James and Agnes Parham lived at 1223 Fayetteville for a decade (1936-1946). James initially worked in one of Durham’s tobacco factories and later owned and operated a small cab business, Star Taxi Company, throughout most of his life. Agnes was a well-known local hairstylist from Orange County, North Carolina, a member of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, the Order of the Eastern Star, Priscillia Missionary Circle, the Year-Round Garden Club, and Cosmetology Club. 

Julius C. and Flora Wilson resided at 1223 Fayetteville Street for 15 years (1947-1962).  1223 was their first residence in Durham when they moved to the city in 1946. The couple were married for over 70 years before their respective deaths. Julius was an auto mechanic from Newton, North Carolina, and Flora, of Catawba County, North Carolina, worked as a cook. Flora would eventually work as a crossing guard for the Durham Police Department.Julius originally worked with James Russell Parham as an operator at Star Taxi Company. He then went on to start his own mechanic shop, Star Garage. Julius relocated Star Garage in the 1960s, after he and many other Black business and home owners were forcefully displaced by Durham’s urban renewal program.

The Wilsons were active community members, especially at their church, Mt. Vernon Baptist. Julius was a deacon, choir member, and leader of numerous groups involved with the church. Flora served as President of the Faithful Redeemed Bible Class and as a member of the church’s Missionary Department. They were also involved with local clubs, including Julius’ membership with the Dorcas Masonic Lodge No. 460 and Flora with the Price Street Club.

As of 2026, the property is in good, stable condition.

Sources:

Carolina Times 

Durham Sun 

Herald-Sun (Durham, North Carolina)

From Stokesdale National Register Nomination: 

This one-story, side-gabled bungalow is three bays wide and triple-pile with wide, gabled dormers on the façade and rear elevation. The house has a painted brick foundation, vinyl siding, and vinyl-covered knee braces in the gable ends. It has vinyl replacement windows around the first floor, which appeared to have been sized down on the front facade; on the second floor, there are paired vinyl windows in the gable ends and a row of five, original four-light casement windows in the front dormer. The engaged front porch is supported by replacement posts on painted brick piers with a replacement wood railing, a painted brick stair, and knee walls. A hip-roofed side porch on the south elevation is supported by similar wood posts on brick piers. A shed-roofed porch on the rear shelters the back door.