1503 W Pettigrew St
Durham, NC, USA

National Register of Historic Places - Powe House

Statement of Significance:

Although it is badly in need of paint and largely obscured from view by overgrown foliage, the architecturally distinctive Powe House stands as the only intact and structurally sound representative of a small but imposing group of West Durham houses built by textile industry executives at the turn of this century. The builder of the house, Edward Knox Powe, spent the last thirty- seven years of his career in the industry with Erwin Cotton Mills Company in West Durham, first as General Superintendent of the firm's No.1 Mill and later as Production Manager of both the No.1 and No.4 mills. Like most prominent industrialists of his day, Powe served as a director of a variety of companies, invested in real estate, and was active in both religious and civic affairs. He is best remembered, however, for his sincere interest in and benevolence toward the Erwin Cotton Mills work force in West Durham. He was especially concerned about the children, particularly their education, and quietly helped many pay the expenses of studies beyond the grade school level.