Slave Quarters

Dr. John Hope Franklin
HONORARY CHAIR,
RESTORATION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN states

"Before the American Civil War there were hundreds of urban slave quarters housing thousands of enslaved people throughout the South. At the Bellamy Mansion we have a rare opportunity to restore one of the last remaining buildings of this kind. Through its restoration we will honor the lives and contributions of not only Sarah, Joan, Maryann and the children who lived in the Bellamy Mansion quarters, but all enslaved people who lived in such dwellings. Please join us in this important restoration effort and help us tell their stories.”

The slave quarters, a remarkable two-story brick
structure complete with five rooms including two
5-seat privies and a laundry, needs to be restored.
The campaign funds will be used to restore this
rare example of an intact urban slave quarters and
to develop extensive educational programming
in order to engage people of all races and cultures
in our shared American history.

Slave Quarters re-roofing

Above: standing seam metal roof installation on the 1859 slave quarters building.

Dean Ruedrich, PNC Regional Director headquartered in Louisburg, provided restoration consultation for the project. Dean is a former restorationist by trade and with his crew restored the quarters’ windows and outside doors in 2004.

The project requires a built -in gutter system as exists on the main house and visitors center. The existing roof framing and sheathing was installed in the 1970s to save the building from further deterioration. WCarpentry work to create the built-in gutter was performed by Frank Castillo of CGC Historic Restorations; Frank will also provide his stucco expertise on the parapets.

Metal work is provided by Charles Watson and Joey Baker of Hanover Iron Works Company under the supervision of Tommy King

Window and Outside Door Restoration

Window and Outside Door Restoration was the first phase in the restoration in October 2003. All windows were removed, disassembled, repaired, reglazed. Before the windows were re-assembled,19th century sheet glass replaced newer panes.

Above: Restoration workshop attendees received hand-ons technique instruction. They were supervised by restorationist, Dean Reudrich. Kaye Graybeal and Maggie O’Connor from the City of Wilmington Historic Planning Office, as well as Bellamy Mansion docent Kathy Giannini, apply their own skills at cutting glass and glazing.