{"id":4075,"date":"2018-12-18T21:08:28","date_gmt":"2018-12-19T02:08:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legeros.com\/blog\/?p=4075"},"modified":"2026-04-15T13:32:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T17:32:25","slug":"pullen-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legeros.com\/blog\/pullen-road\/","title":{"rendered":"Pullen Road Extension – Historical Perspective"},"content":{"rendered":"

The long-awaited Pullen Road extension opened yesterday.\u00a0Here’s a city news release<\/a> about the $3.8M project that extends Pullen Road to Centennial Campus Parkway, by way of a new roundabout at Bilyeu Street.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

But did you know that Avent Ferry Road originally ran through there, and connected with Western Boulevard just east of Pullen Road? Below is a\u00a0historical perspective, showing maps from 1948 to present.<\/p>\n

Catholic Orphanage and Cry Baby Lane<\/strong><\/p>\n

The area was known as Nazareth and was originally\u00a0the site of Raleigh’s Catholic Orphanage, which operated until the early 1970s. Here’s a WRAL story<\/a> about the facility.<\/p>\n

And a fatal fire in 1905, at a dormitory for seminary students, inspired\u00a0the later legend of \u201cCry Baby Lane,\u201d a nearby road upon which visitors purportedly hear the screaming of children and smell smoke. Read this Legeros blog post<\/a> for more.<\/p>\n

Or see this Hidden Raleigh<\/a> site.<\/p>\n

Historical Perspective<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maps from then and now, with annotations. Click to enlarge:<\/p>\n

\"2018-12-19-pullen-road-extension\"<\/a><\/p>\n