"Historic Hayti, Revisited" explores the Hayti business district during the 1940s-1960s, a once-thriving African American community located in Durham, North Carolina. Graduate students taking Dr. Chassanoff's Digital Heritage Projects Class in the School of Library and Information Sciences at North Carolina Central University spent the spring semester of 2022 collecting, organizing, and describing primary and secondary sources for six selected businesses. The goal of the digital collection, which is made up of thematic exhibits on each business, is to "tell the story" of Historic Hayti by learning more about the people, places, events, and memories that took place. In the 1960s, Hayti was destroyed under the guise of "urban renewal." Over 4000 homes and 500 businesses were destroyed and/or displaced, with an as yet unfulfilled promise to rebuild. Learn more about the Hayti community here.
Special thanks to Denise Hester, The Historic Fayetteville Street Planning Corridor Facebook Group, Nick Levy and Open Durham, Andre' Vann, Bull City 150, Dr. Charles Johnson, and everyone who participated!
Holding Out: Service Printing Company
One of the last businesses to leave Hayti, Service Printing Company provided the Hayti community with printed materials of all...
Garretts Drugstore
Garrett's Biltmore Drugstore was more than a place to fill perscriptions. Filled with daily essentials and a soda fountain where...
DeShazor's Beauty College
The DeShazor's Beauty College was a place to begin ones career in cosmetology and gain life skills in the business...
Speights Auto
This collection uncovers the history of Speights Auto in the Hayti Community in Durham, North Carolina. This business was one...
Green Candle Restaurant
Green Candle Restaurant, owned by Azona Meadows Allen, operated in Hayti for over 45 years.
Regal Theater
The Regal theater was one of four Black theaters which operated in Durham's Hayti district. The Regal specialized in both...