Historic Chapel Hill homes rich in University history

By Erin Wygant | Published 8 hours ago

While students jog through the many side streets in the quiet neighborhoods of Chapel Hill, the beat in their headphones pushes them past generations of history, though they might not realize it.

In 1793, when University plans were drawn, builders laid out the town meaning the two were and still are very much connected. Chapel Hill is a community where homeowners blend with college students and where residential and commercial life meet along Franklin Street.

The Widow Puckett House on East Franklin Street is one such example. Formerly a widows boarding house and an occasional classroom, the first chancellors residences central location has made it an important player in the Universitys history. Current owners Ann Stewart and Randall Roden take great pride in the story behind their home and said theyre eager to share it with anyone interested.

I feel a real responsibility to learn as much history of the house, to add to it and pass it on, Stewart said. This house has so much history that interesting things happen all the time.

The couple has compiled a list of past owners, including Jane Puckett, the widow for whom the house is named. She housed notable tenants whose names are still visible on the walls.

The students lived upstairs in the attic, and most of them signed their names in candle smudge to the ceiling and now have buildings named after them like Venable, Phillips and Spencer, Stewart said.

The houses history is also constantly evolving with donations from visitors.

People give things to this house all the time, said Stewart, pointing to a picture of the entire University faculty seated in the side yard of the house during the 1870s.

When people leave, one of the things they remember is the town. It is one of the things they come back to see, Roden said. They like to see the same places, and while they come to visit the campus, they also come to see the town and historic district that looks like what they remember.

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Historic Chapel Hill homes rich in University history