Philo M. Bussell House

05.24.2007 (DC tax office)

(Below in italics is from the National Register listing; not verified for accuracy by this author.)

Built in the 1920s for Philo Bussell, vice president of Durham Industrial Bank. With a brick facade laid in Flemish bond, this Foursquare is enriched by its hipped roof extending to form wide boxed eaves containing paired curved brackets. One interior and one exterior-end chimney pierce the eaves. A full-facade porch is extended by a terrace on the south; it is adorned with Tuscan columns, turned balusters and paneled piers holding wooden urns which flank the porch entry.

(The information below in italics is from the Historic Preservstion Society of Durham Plaque Application for the Philo M. Bussell House) 

According to their obituary, Philo M. Bussell moved to Durham from Mecklenburg County in 1911 and started the Piedmont Furniture Company. He is listed as living in the Hopkins House boarding house in 1913-14 and operating the Southern Furniture Co. (likely a precursor to the Piedmont Furniture Company). Bussell moved to Roxboro Street (1915-1916) and then to Jackson Street before settling on Watts Street in 1927. The house at 816 Watts Street was state of the art at the time of its construction. It was known for having the first electric stove in Durham and was pictured in advertisements for the electric company. Also of interest are the radiators that were enclosed within the walls. 

Philo M. and Ida J. Bussell died on the same day, December 15, 1972. Ida died at 2:30 in the afternoon at the Watts Hospital and Philo, who had been ill and was staying at the Hillhaven Convalescent Center, died at 5:15 pm, both of natural causes. The following summer the children sold the house to Doyle G. Graham and Beth M. Graham, who occupied the house until it was sold to the current owners in 2006.