20041114 - PRESERVING HISTORY - NCCU REOPENS SHEPARD HOUSE

DURHAM, N.C. - As North Carolina Central University celebrated Founder’s Day this year, the university also celebrated the opening of its founder’s home, The Shepard House.

Prior to cutting the ribbon, Carolyn Green Boone, Shepard’s great granddaughter introduced a newly discovered audiotape of a radio address Shepard gave in 1946. Fayetteville Street was closed to traffic, construction next door was halted and the gathered crowd was hushed as they listened intently to Shepard’s words.

This was the first time that Shepard’s great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren had heard the voice of their renowned forefather. It was the first time in 57 years that Annie Day Smith Donaldson and Carolyn Marie Smith Green, seated on the front porch of the Shepard House, heard their grandfather’s spoken word.

The house was renovated with $685,000 secured from the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund and NCCU. The park service provided $342,500 that the university matched, making $685,000 available for the project.

Built in 1929, the house is 4,379 square feet with five rooms: a bathroom on the upper level, a dining room, living room, breakfast area, kitchen, study, sun parlor, and half bath on the main floor. The house also includes a basement.

“Shepard House is more than brick and mortar,” said Chancellor James H. Ammons. “It is an icon and a visible tribute to our founder.”

Shepard, who was president of NCCU from 1910 to 1947, lived in the house through the 1940’s. After his death, presidents Alphonso Elder and Albert Whiting lived in the house. The house was then used by the admissions office and was in disrepair by the time Julius L. Chambers was appointed chancellor.

Chambers appointed Phyllis Lotchin, professor of English, as chair of the Shepard House Renovation Committee and charged the committee with the task of organizing the renovation effort.

Lesley Williams, curator and project manager, was hired to put into motion the historic site with the charge of making sure that those visiting would get a good sense of Shepard’s life and contributions. The resulting exhibition will open at the end of November.

When visitors enter the house they will be exposed to a two dimensional exhibition which will include excerpts from over 20 hours of recorded oral histories. One of the most fascinating interviews said Williams is one with Dr. John Hope Franklin, a former professor of NCCU, who talked about Shepard’s sense of humor and contributions. The exhibition also includes a partial recording of one of Dr. Shepard’s radio addresses in 1946 ‘Our Mutual Tasks’ where he discussed the common interests of poor blacks and whites. Many photographs in the exhibition depict his life and times.

“He was such a visionary,” said Williams, “to decide at the age of 35 to establish an institution and have the vision and motivation to get there was remarkable. He had a philosophy that included bettering all Negroes by educating the clergy. He wanted to educate people to go out and to continue to serve the community.”

Williams said that so much of what he wrote about is still pertinent. As a folklorist, Williams said the project has been rewarding because she is passionate about the preservation of African American culture and history.
“My hope is that this project will serve as a focal point for preserving the history of black Durham in general and in particular the history of the university,’ said Williams who has worked as a North Carolina Arts Council curator and director of the Folk Arts Program for South Carolina Arts Commission. “My hope is that it will serve as an inspiration about what can be done when historic preservation is a priority.”

The Shepard House will be used as a meeting place for small groups and as exhibition space for a historical perspective of the university and its founder.