Gilbert-Cozart House

From the Preservation Durham Plaque Application (below in italics): 

In 1922 the parcel on Patra Street (soon after changed to N. Roxboro) was purchased by Albert P. and Mary Ury Gilbert from the Durham Land Company. They built the large Colonial Revival house that is similar to other houses south on Roxboro and those on Watts St attributed to Rose & Rose about 1923. They defaulted on their mortgage and in 1924, B.W. and Alma Harris purchased the parcel at auction for $12,700. A month later, Carl H. Cozart purchased the property. Cozart is listed in the 1925 CD as owning land on N. Roxboro, however the full address is first listed in 1926. 

Albert Gilbert and his wife Mary Lavinia Ury Gilbert were both born in 1878 outside of Durham, moving to town before 1914. A.P. was a veteran of the Spanish-American War, and an inventor with patents in his name from 1917. In 1921 they lived at 318 East Main, with a profession listed of “manufacturer’s agent.” 

Carl Haynes Cozart was born on April 3, 1874 in Granville County. Carl operated his first tobacco warehouse in Creedmoor before getting into the business in Durham in 1919. He opened the Big Four Tobacco Warehouse at the corner of Morgan and Foster Streets. In 1933 the company expanded to become Carver, Cozart and Currin, operating Star Warehouse No. 1 and 2 and Star Brick Warehouse. In 1944 a fire started in the basement of the Big 4 Warehouse and the structure was destroyed. Carl was a charter member of the Durham Tobacco Board of Trade and operated warehouses in Georgia and South Carolina as well. 

Evelyn Fleming was born and raised in Granville County and attended private school in both Granville County and Washington D.C. She received a degree in music from the Waco Conservatory of Music in Waco, Texas. After marrying Carl in 1905, they resided in Creedmoor. Carl and Evelyn had five daughters and one son. In 1955 she died of heart disease. Carl continued to live at 1723 N. Roxboro until his death at age 92 in 1966. Both Carl and Eveyln are buried at Maplewood Cemetery. 

Carl and Evelyn’s children inherited the house and sold it (?) to the First Baptist Church of Durham, located on Cleveland Street. In 1972 Harold and Beverly Scroggs purchased the house.

Harold was born in Pelzer, SC on September 20, 1935. Harold started working for Sears and Roebuck in 1954, and by 1973 he was named the Assistant Manager at the Durham Northgate store. He later became the Operating Manager. He was heavily involved in Boy Scouts and in 1982 he received the Silver Beaver Scout award, the highest honor for scout leaders. In his later years, he was the leader of Habitat for Humanity’s “old geezer crew”- retirees from around the Triangle that gathered on Thursday mornings to volunteer with Habitat. 

Beverly Sutherland was born June 23, 1934 in Abbeville County, SC. Beverly and Harold had two children, Harold (“Tony”) and Barry. Tony died at his parents home at the age of 42. Beverly and Harold died a day apart from each other in February 2023 and a joint funeral was held for them in Abbeville County. 

In 2023, Phil and Erika Giganti purchased 1723 from the Scroggs’ estate. Phil and Erika are working with 4/1 Design and Cadence Construction to restore the house.