The Local Music Scene

This is a tour of the places that have been part of and/or contributed to the local music scene over time.

412 W. Rosemary St. / The Sun Magazine / The Yellow House

Built in the early 20th century as a dwelling, it was later used for commercial purposes. Torn down to make way for Mama Dip's new restaurant in 1998.

108 Pine St. / The Mausoleum / The Moz

This structure was an outbuilding behind the Romweber family dwelling at 108 Pine Street. The Romwebers moved to this property in mid-1977, and sold it in July 1986. This outbuilding was where Dexter Romweber briefly lived while a teenager; he and his friends and siblings called it the " Mausoleum" or "Moz" (some spell it "Maus") for short. In 1985...

Elizabeth Cotten Childhood Home

The famous folksinger known as " Elizabeth Cotton" was born Ella Nevill January 5, 1893 to George and Louisa Nevill, in or near Chapel Hill. Within a few years, the family purchased land in the section of Chapel Hill now known as Northside. This property was likely rented or purchased circa 1900, but the deed wasn't transferred to Louisa ("Lou")...

Hargraves Community Center / Hargraves Center / Roberson Street Center / Negro Community Center

(Note: Most of the following history of the Hargraves Center was compiled by a Parks & Recreation intern in the late 1980s. The intern interviewed several long-time users of the facility, including Lucille Caldwell who was the first paid director of the Center.) The Hargraves Recreation Center, originally known as the Negro Community Center...

Brown's Store / Hollow Rock Store

The original Hollow Rock store was moved to save it from demolition, but was moved back when the new Durham-Orange New Hope Park was created.

55 Dogwood Acres Dr. / Mellott's Store / Mellott's Self-Service Grocery

"Dogwood Acres" was subdivided in 1949, as a development for people to have custom homes built on purchased lots. Mellott's Store was built on lot 55 of the subdivision sometime between 1951 and 1959. According to a 1951 article in the Chapel Hill Weekly, "Lot 55 is being reserved for a service [station] and shopping center to be built for the...

456 W. Franklin St.

Talullas

Built in 1947, its first occupant was West Franklin Street Grocery. At the time, its address was #432. Circa 1960, it became a [segregated] billiards room called the Sports Center. In 1969-70, it became the Record and Tape Center, selling records, tapes, and etc. In 1973-74 it became Harmony Natural Foods Store (after being "firebombed" by local...

Home to the Record and Tape Center in the late 1960's/early 1970's

618 Morgan Creek Rd. / Taylor House

The Isaac M. and Gertrude W. Taylor House was built in 1952. The house is where musician James Taylor grew up along with his siblings. George Matsumoto was the architect who began the project, but some of his ideas were disliked by Gertrude "Trudy" Taylor, so she fired him. (According to US Modernist: "After that point Matsumoto temporarily swore...

131 E. Franklin St.

Built in 1918 for/by W. S. Roberson. Circa 1920 the Carolina Barber Shop moved into this building . Carolina Barber Shop, 1924 (from UNC's Yackety Yack) June 1925 Sanborn map excerpt, showing "Store" at #122 In 1938, the rear section of the Carolina Barber Shop building had been a "shower facility" but was converted to the Carolina Beauty Shop...

603-1/2 W. Rosemary St. / Star Lite Supper Club

The building was Charlie Mason’s Starlite Supper Club in the 1950s and 1960s. Built in early 1958 as a place for African-Americans to have dinner, listen to music, and dance. View east, with Charlie Mason (image via Hidden Voices) View south east (image via Hidden Voices) 1959 ad Patrons listened to world-renowned musicians/entertainers such as Ike...

206 W. Franklin St.

This structure was built in 1955, and Belk-Legget-Horton department store opened at this location. Left side of structure, view north, 1970s (via Chapel Hill Historical Society) Right side of structure, view north, 1970s (via Chapel Hill Historical Society) 1957 ad In 1978, Southern Bell Telephone Company moved into the building (Belk's moved to...

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