Raleigh black historic landmarks on the move
Two Raleigh landmarks in Oberlin finally will be moved and renovated to preserve their histories.
Preservation North Carolina acquired the Rev. Plummer T. Hall House and the Graves-Fields House over two years ago to renovate the historic buildings from Oberlin’s freedman community after slavery.
The organization plans to use both buildings as its headquarters and join the two by a basement that will be added on.
After numerous delays, the Plummer T. Hall House was moved this week to its new location.
Preservation North Carolina already has raised $1.2 million of its $1.25 million fundraising goal, including a $500,000 challenge grant from an anonymous donor.
Built by former slaves, both buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Oberlin Village was a predominately black community of 1,000 residents in the late 1800s. It ran 12 blocks from Hillsborough Street to what is now Wade Avenue.
The village consisted of churches, schools, businesses and residences until Cameron Village Shopping Center was built in the 1950s and Oberlin Road was widened which destroyed many of the structures. Only five of the remaining buildings are listed on the National Register.
Oberlin Cemetery, a black historic cemetery that houses many of the families that lived in Oberlin Village, was recently added to the National Register. Hall founded Oberlin Baptist Church, which has resided on Oberlin Road for over 100 years.
(Triangle Tribune, 12/20/18)