Hidden Raleigh

Buildings / Institutions / Facilities

Airport Hotel


 
Source: Goodnight Raleigh web post

Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Built in the 1960s, demolished in 2000. The parking garage presently occupies the site.

Airport Parking Lot, Abandoned



Photographed August 31, 2013

Abandoned airport parking lot on Airgate Drive off Pleasant Grove Church Road in Morrisville.

See more photos.

Airport Runway, Old



Photographed August 31, 2013.

Abandoned runway at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, opposite the airport maintenance facility on National Guard Drive.

See more photos. See postings: Blog 1, Blog 2.

Airport Terminal



Bing Map aerial photos


Courtesy North Carolina State Archives 

Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Built in 1955, the brick terminal building replaced a smaller wooden terminal building erected in 1946. The terminal building was expanded over the decades, and both the original terminal building and expansions were demolished in 2016.

Beacon Lake



Photographed December 4, 2010

Abandoned recreation area on Beacon Lake Road in east Raleigh.

See more photos. See postings: Blog 1 Blog 2.

Burlington Mills Plant, Old



Photographed November 3, 2013

Abandoned industrial facility on Capital Boulevard.

See more photos.

Camp Polk


Photographed March 22, 2004

1800 block of Blue Ridge Road

History:  Camp Polk originally served as the only Army tank training base in the United States during World War I.  In 1920, the state obtained the land for a prison farm and later youth detention center.  In 1963, most of the later buildings were erected.  The prison housed 381 male youths and had 330 employees on 20 acres, 14 of which were fenced.  Polk Youth Center moved to a new facility in Butner in 1998; the Blue Ridge Road site was abandoned that year and demolished in 2003.

June 2016 - Site under development as "art park" extension of art museum.

Caraleigh Mills

Photographed March 22, 2004
map-caraleigh-mills.jpg (73139 bytes)

421 Maywood Avenue

History: Built in 1891-92, one of Raleigh's earliest and largest mill was constructed in south Raleigh in close proximity to a Norfolk-Southern Railroad line.  In 2001, the mill building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.  In 2003, it opened for occupancy as condominium space. More information. March 2004.

Catholic Orphanage
 

Sanborn Map, 1950

Avent Ferry Road

Central Prison (West Side)

Photographed March 25, 2004



"State Penitentiary, Raleigh, N.C." in Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, UNC-Chapel Hill - Circa 1900-1910
 

Sanborn Insurance Maps

1300 Western Boulevard

See photos from 2013

Central Prison (East Side)



Photographed March 21, 2004
  sanborn-prison-1949.jpg (47921 bytes)
Sanborn Insurance Maps

History: Construction was started on the state's first prison in 1870.  Built by inmates using granite quarried just outside the prison's east wall, the four-story, Gothic Revival structure was completed in 1884.  Before a 1931 renovation, the facility had just one well and spigot for all convict bathing.  In 1939-41, an industrial building was added; in 1952-53, a new shop and main building were built; and between 1960-65, hospital and honor grade facilities were constructed.  In 1954, all original turrets, battlements, spires, and pointed cupolas were removed after being condemned by the city building inspector.  The prison was demolished between 1979 and 1984, replaced by the present facility.  Sections of the original 20-foot stone wall are still standing.  Sanborn Insurance Maps dated 1914 (left) and 1949 (right) show the original prison building. More information. March 2004.

See photos from 2013

Corrections Facility, Abandoned (demolished)  


Photographed March 21, 2004

Mountford Avenue beside Central Prison

 June 2016 - Building since demolished.

The Cotton Mill

Photographed July 1, 2016

614 Capital Boulevard

History: This 80,000 square-foot textile mill was constructed in 1890.  It was converted to condominium space in 1996. March 2004.

See photos from 2013

Devereux Meadow

Photographed March 21, 2004

Sanborn Map, 1949

Behind 1014 North West Street

History: The baseball park was completed in 1939 and demolished in 1979.  For decades, the park was the only full-sized, fully-lit baseball field in Raleigh.  The site presently houses the city's sanitation department. Trivia: In 1968, the Durham Bulls merged with Raleigh to form the Raleigh-Durham Mets. The team played half its games in each of their respective cities and folded just before the start of the 1972 season.  The pictured Sanborn Insurance Map section is dated 1949. March 2004.

See photos from 2013

Dorothea Dix Campus

Photographed 2013

 



Bird's Eye View of Raleigh, 1872


"Dix Hill, State Hospital, Raleigh, N.C.", in Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, UNC-Chapel Hill


 
Sanborn Map, 1914 

South Boylan Avenue

See photos from 2013

June 2016 - Ongoing development and demolition of structures on site.

Factory Building

Photographed March 21, 2004
sanborn-snow-factory.jpg (50650 bytes)

220 Snow Avenue

History:  Sanborn Insurance Map dated 1914 (right) shows the building as part of a Southern Manufacturing Company complex. Located at 220 Snow Avenue, the 3800 square-foot, three-story building is presently used as a Wake County homeless service center. March 2004.

Farmers Market, Old


Photographed March 22, 2004

1014 Hodges Street


History:  The North Carolina State Farmers Market was relocated in 1991 to a newly constructed facility on Agricultural Street off Lake Wheeler Road. March 2004.

See photos from 2013

Freight Crane

Photographed March 21, 2004
sanborn-davie-depot.jpg (46047 bytes)

West Davie Street

History: This freight crane was refurbished and relocated to the main entrance drive of the renovated Southern Railway freight depot.  The downtown building at 327 West Davie Street was built in 1912 and is shown right in a Sanborn Insurance Map from 1914. March 2004.

Governor Morehead School, Garner Road

Photographed 2015


Sanborn Maps, 1949

Garner Road

See photos from 2015. See related: Blog.

Harrelson Hall (demolished)


Photographed March 28, 2004

North Carolina State University

History:  The first cylindrical classroom structure ever built on a university campus has a 206 foot diameter, was built in 1962, and is named for John William Harrelson (1885-1955), the first alumnus to serve as chief administrator of the college.  The building has housed the Mathematics department since its construction. March 2004.

June 2016 - Since demolished.

Holiday Inn North, Old


Photographed November 17, 2013.

Old Holiday Inn North on Capital Boulevard. Built 1981.

See more photos.

Lassiter's Mill

Photographed March 21, 2004

"Lassiters Mill. Flour, Meal and Feed, Raleigh, N.C.", Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, UNC-Chapel Hill



History:  Originally known as the "Great Falls of Crabtree," this site is one of the oldest mill sites in Wake County.  Cornelius J. Lassiter purchased the land in 1908 and constructed a grist mill that operated for fifty years until burning in 1958.  The site was also a popular picnic and swimming area for Raleigh residents. March 2004.

See photos from 2013

Mary Elizabeth Hospital

Photographed March 28, 2004



"Rex Hospital, Raleigh, N.C." postcards in Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, UNC-Chapel Hill

Sanborn Map, 1949

1100 Wake Forest Road

Photographed March 28, 2004

History:  Located at the corner of Glascock Street and Wake Forest Road, the hospital opened its doors in 1914.  Later renamed Raleigh Community Hospital, the facility moved to its present location at 3400 Wake Forest Road in 1978. March 2004.

See photos from 2013

Methodist Orphanage, Old
 

"Raleigh, N.C. Methodist Orphanage," Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, UNC-Chapel Hill

methodist1.jpg (92668 bytes) methodist2.jpg (81166 bytes)
Aerial photograph dated March 28, 2002


Sanborn Maps, 1950

Orphanage Drive, off Clay Street, off Saint Mary's Street

Pilot Mills
 

Photographed July 1, 2016
 
Sanborn Insurance Map

1100 block of Hayne Street

History:  Pilot Mills was established in 1892.  The cotton mill closed in 1982.  The 1903 building presently houses condominiums and the 1910 building presently houses a charter high school. March 2004.

See photos from 2013

Racetrack, Old

Street Map, 1959

Southwest of present intersection of Atlantic Avenue and New Hope Church Road

History: The approximately mile-long track was built in the mid 1950s and demolished by the late 1960s.

See related: Blog.

Raleigh Municipal Airport, Old



Photographed March 21, 2004


"Raleigh Air Port," Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, UNC-Chapel Hill


Champion Map, c.1960 

History:  Opened in 1929, Raleigh's first air transportation hub was constructed with three runways and a hanger at the present-day intersection of Tryon Road and Highway 70. Though all commercial traffic moved to the new Raleigh-Durham Airport in the early 1940s, the south Raleigh airport remained in operation until 1972.  The hangar and airport administration building were demolished in 1974. More information. March 2004.

June 2016 - Most of original airport site has been redeveloped as housing.

Recommended Links:

Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields - Raleigh Municipal Airport, Raleigh, NC

Raleigh Pumping Station


 
Photographed March 25, 2004
 
Sanborn Maps, 1950

1800 block of Fayetteville Street

Raleigh Water Works


Photographed March 22, 2004
 

1810 Fayetteville Street

History:  The pumping station at was built in 1939. March 2004.

Rex Hospital, Old
 




Photographed March 28, 2004



"Rex Hospital, Raleigh, N.C." postcards in Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, UNC-Chapel Hill


Land survey 1980
 

Sanborn Insurance Maps

Corner of Wade Avenue and Saint Mary's Street

History:  Opened in 1937, the hospital moved to its present location at 4420 Lake Boone Trail in 1980. March 2004.

See photos from 2013. See also: Blog 1, Blog 2.

Riddick Stadium (Demolished)


Photographed 2004


"Riddick Stadium," postcard in Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, UNC-Chapel Hill

map-riddick.jpg (56145 bytes)
Sanborn Insurance Map

North Carolina State University

History:  Riddick Stadium was completed in 1907. The pictured concrete bleachers were constructed after the Depression, followed by the West Stands, East Stands, and Field House.  The latter is still standing, occupied by the campus Public Safety department.  In 1968, football and baseball games were moved to Carter-Finley Stadium.  The stands were demolished and a parking lot was paved.  More information. March 2004.

June 2016 - Site since demolished.

St. Agnes Hospital

Photographed 2013

 
Sanborn Maps, 1909, 1914, 1949

Corner of Oakwood and Tarboro roads, on the Saint Augustine College campus.

See photos from 2013

Seaboard Railway Station







Photographed July 1, 2016

Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, UNC-Chapel Hill



Sanborn Maps, 1950
 

707 Semart Street

History:  The building was built in 1942 and presently houses the Logan Trading Company. March 2004.

See photos from 2013

State Fairgrounds, First Location
Confederate Soldier's Home / Old Soldier's Home / Pettigrew Hospital



Photographed 2013



"Soldiers Home," Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, UNC-Chapel Hill
 

Sanborn Maps, 1903, 1909, 1914, 1950

Most sources say the block bounded by New Bern Avenue, Tarboro Street, Hargett Street, and State Street. The 1872 Bird's eye view of the city of Raleigh map depicts a location south and possibly slightly west of that location.

Last updated: September 16, 2013

See photos from 2013

State Fairgrounds, Second Location


Photographed March 28, 2004

 
GIS map, 2016

 
Sanborn Map, 194

Fairmont Neighborhood

History: The first State Fair was founded in 1853. The first site was a 16-acre tract about 10 blocks east of the State Capitol. In 1873, the Fair moved to a "55 acre broom sage field comprising an eminence known as Cook's Hill on Hillsboro Road some 300 yards from the N.C. and Augusta Air Line Railroad, one and one-quarter miles west of the city limits of Raleigh." The site is presently a residential and business district. In 1928, the State Fair moved to its present site, with additional land added in 1952. March 2004.

See photos from 2013

State Highway Patrol Communications Center


Photographed March 22, 2004

4000 block of District Drive.

Tractor Sign



Photographed March 24, 2004

3101 Hillsborough Street

History:  The three-story building was built in 1949 and later housed the Gregory Poole Equipment Company.  The site is present unoccupied. March 2004.

See photos from 2013

Union Depot

Google Street View

"Union Depot," Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, UNC-Chapel Hill 


Sanborn Maps, 1914

Corner of West Martin and South Dawson streets.

See related: Blog.

Washington School
1000-fayetteville-road.jpg (73672 bytes)
Photographed March 28, 2004

1000 Fayetteville Road

History: The first Washington School was a two story wooden building, built in 1869 on West South Street at McDowell Street.  In 1875 the school was reorganized as a public school.  In 1924, a new Washington Elementary and High School opened.  The two-story, brick and stone Jacobean Revival style building was set above a one-story basement, had thirty classrooms, an auditorium, cafeteria, and library.  It is presently an elementary magnet school. March 2004.

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