Forester-McKinnon House

(The information below in italics is from the Preservation Durham Plaque Application for the Forester-McKinnon House)

W.F. and Margaret Mansfield purchased the land at 2109 Englewood in 1925 from C.C. Jones, a Durham developer. They built the 1 1/2-story bungalow soon after. The home features a large front gable porch, exaggerated brackets, wide eaves and fascia, and 10- over-1 sash windows. 2109 Englewood remains largely intact, with very few changes to its exterior. 

W.F. and Margaret were married in 1918 and W.F. worked as a bookkeeper at Paschall Bros. Heating and Cooling (now Acme Plumbing). In 1932, W.F. and Margaret defaulted on their mortgage and the house was reposted by the Durham Realty and Insurance Company. The house traded hands several times between 1932 and 1947 and during this period it was converted into a duplex and rented to many different occupants. W.F. and Margaret continued to reside in Durham. She passed away in 1952 and he died in 1980. In both their obituaries, 814 Markham Ave. is listed as their address. 

In 1947 Charles and Margaret McKinnon purchased 2109. From 1947 to about 1960, City Directories show Charles and Margaret sharing the address with tenants. After 1960, no tenants are listed, and it is likely that it was converted back into a single family home. According to his obituary, Charles worked for Elkins Motor Company as a bookkeeper/ office manager for twenty five years. He was also a staff sergeant in World War II. Margaret worked at Erwin Mills as a secretary and then Grey Stone Baptist Church. She began teaching Sunday School there as a teenager and continued until she was 86. Charles died in 1994, and Margaret stayed in the house until she sold it to April and David Montgomery in 2000. She died in 2004.