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Designation Documents
One of Raleigh’s best-preserved speculative subdivisions (developed with racially restrictive covenants).
Period of Significance: 1938 – 1951
Properties with a contributing status in the district may be eligible for the federal and state historic tax credit programs. Visit the Historic Property Tax Credit webpage for more information.
History
Hi-Mount was once Crabtree Plantation, owned by Kimbrough Jones, who is believed to have operated a horse farm. In 1926, Raleigh businessman J.J. Fallon purchased a portion of the plantation and later subdivided it into 66 lots for residential development. Between 1939 and 1947, George H. Wright Jr. of the Wright Construction Company built 41 homes in Hi-Mount.
In late 1946, a post-war building boom led Wake County officials to expand the subdivision, opening it up for further development. The district’s stylistic continuity can be attributed to its small number of developers. Pine Ridge Homes, Inc. and Hi-Mount Homes, Inc.—both owned and operated by J. “Willie” York and Ed N. Richards—erected over 100 Cape Cod- and Minimal Traditional-style houses between 1947 and 1949. Wright returned to Hi-Mount in 1951, partnering with L.M. Curtis to form the Allied Building Company, which oversaw the construction of 29 Hi-Mount homes, including the district’s minimalist Ranches, or Ranchettes.
Post-war government financing programs also contributed to the subdivision’s homogeneity. The Federal Housing Administration and the Veterans Administration provided affordable financing to returning vets, and developers, eager to profit, followed agency regulations to ensure their homes would qualify. As evidenced by Hi-Mount, this often resulted in architecturally standardized neighborhoods.
As a district, the Hi-Mount neighborhood illustrates a shift in housing styles from the late 1930s to the 1950s and is a prime example of the post-war building boom as it occurred in Raleigh. Today, the neighborhood retains a high level of architectural integrity.
Historic District Map
This National Register district map is provided for illustrative purposes only and does not represent the official zoning map, which is maintained in iMaps.
Physical Description
Located two miles north of downtown, the Hi-Mount historic district is a well-preserved 20th-century speculative neighborhood. The eleven-block district developed between 1938 and 1951, with the majority of construction occurring after World War II. Hi-Mount’s houses are small, set back from the street, and fronted by landscaped yards. Side driveways are common, and many homes have garages, carports, or small sheds. The district’s roads generally follow a grid pattern and are lined with trees.
Hi-Mount’s dominant architectural style is Minimal Traditional, followed by Cape Cod and Ranch homes with sparse detailing. Homes range in size from 1- to 1 ½-stories tall and 2-4 bays wide. All are frame construction with brick or concrete block foundations and front- or side-gabled roofs. Many have replaced their original wood, brick veneer, or asbestos siding with vinyl or aluminum. Picture windows are common, and in keeping with the district’s style, while front porches are small and simple.