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7/10/2019 0 Comments Calling All Bull City Makers
Passing the mic to Durham.
Over the course of 919 days, the Bull City collaborated with me to create “The Bulls of Durham” living history book. Together, on the way to capturing Durham’s history from 1701 to February 2019, 4100+ Bull Love Mugs went out into the world reaching 43 states (that we know of), 13 countries, and 4 continents. “Welcome to the Bull City,” a prelude to “The Bulls of Durham” the little book with big heart went on to become the best-selling book in Durham sharing words of love, inclusion, diversity, welcome, and Bull City real talk. The entire project has been a collaborate with the city. The Bulls of Durham platform was built for, by, with, and of Durham. The book is complete and I’ll continue to share pieces of it for years to come. Every Bull City home, business, and school needs a copy. Just saying. The time has come to pass the mic to the city. The platform is here to share the Bull City magic that has been and continues to be shared with me. That is why I created The Bulls of Durham Community Partnership Program. I BULLieve that not only can marketing and do-gooding combined, but that the best marketing is do-gooding.
0 Comments
Money.
Our friends over at Coastal Credit Union taught me some Durham history I didn’t know! Turns out the Bull City was home to the FIRST credit union in the South! And it goes back to tobacco farming. Who saw the tobacco part coming? Durham has always had a way of “make money, figure out the rest later,” and that has lead to many innovations and interesting Bull City tales. That was of life is what lead to John Sprunt Hill opening up Lowe’s Grove credit union. Local farmers needed a safe place to keep their earnings year round without being subject to scandalous practices such as, but not limited to, absurdly-high interest rates. Farmers get paid but once a year and that money doesn’t always line up or make it through the farmer costs of the following year. Furthermore, the demand for tobacco outpaced everything and everyone, including the existing banking practices. Enter banker John Sprunt Hill. He had a background in finance and was married to a tobacconist’s daughter giving him keen insight into the banking needs of those in the tobacco industry. He worked with the farmers of Lowe’s Grove to create the credit union in 1915. Each founding member put in $29, which today would be $735. Things have a way of growing in Durham. Lowe’s Grove credit union lead the way, followed by Durham becoming home to some of the very few African-American owned credit unions. North Carolina, namely Durham, had more African-American credit unions than the rest of US combine! Providing fair lending rates and savings options for African-Americans during the Jim Crow Era. Durham has always lead the way in race relations by way of money. Special thanks to our Community Partners Coast Credit Union for making this Bull City History Bit possiBULL. Durham’s always been incrediBULL - you can take that to the bank. #Sponsored Content
Click HERE to sponsor your own Bull City History Bit and become a Community Partner.
On Sale On Sale Bull City Storytime
$20.00 - $90.00
Have something special coming up in Durham and want to get the word out to an entire herd of Bull City loving folks? This affordaBULL Community Partnership Opportunity is PERFECT for you. Promote your event, sale, product line, big news via @TheBullsOfDurham stories. Our HIGHLY engaged audience loves what we love, so let us love you in our stories. Speaking from experience, Durham and most humans in general, need several reminders. Recommend to purchase 3 or more stories building up to your event, sale, etc. for best results. Pricing is per story slide. If your promotion needs more than 1 story slide purchase that number of story slides. **Stories purchased in 2019 must be utilized by 12/31/2019. *Terms and conditions apply. The Bulls Of Durham LLC reserves the right to choose what will and will not be promoted via their avenues. No *risky* business as we have Young Bulls who read our content too. Bits of Bull City History
$75.00
Sponsorship of a Durham History post on social media as well as a microblog on TheBullsOfDurham.com. These are mega-hits reaching 1000s of Durhamites. Durham LOVES its history. Great way to show a large, growing & engage Durham audience you truly care about Durham, it's people, and it's history. On Sale On Sale Tasty Tuesday Feature
$150.00
$100.00
Get your incrediBULL Durham based food and/or beverage business in front of 1000s of Bull City enthusiasts and be a Bulls of Durham Supporter at the same time. *Can use this as a Tasty Tuesday or Thirsty Thursday. You've got options.* Have your business featured on The Bulls of Durham Instagram and Facebook accounts. Share up to 10 photos of your incrediBULL crew, business or self in action. We'll work with you to create a caption that shares who you are, why you're awesome, what problem you solve for your customer, why you love Durham and which bull in the Bull City is your favorite. Because Durham.
Terms and conditions apply. We reserve the right to decline service to companies/organizations/individuals not in line with our brand. 6/17/2019 0 Comments The Bull City Is Growing
Durham is growing.
I would like to nominate that previous sentence for understatement of the year. On average, 20 people a day are moving to Durham and even more are taking jobs in the Bull City. The Bull is booming. There are both pros and cons to this. Changes occurring in Durham are unprecedented compared to anything in Durham’s history dating back to 1701, EXCEPT the influx of newcomers. Before Durham was Durham, it was home to the Eno and Occaneechi tribes. From there colonial exploiter John Lawson called the area the “flower of the Carolinas,” a drunkard with a side hustle of doctoring gifted the NC railroad an acre, and a series of unBULLievaBULL events unfolded making Durham. Durham’s history can turn the most agnostic individuals BULLievers. Durham’s history and existence are because of folks moving here for opportunities. Post Civil War Durham was one of the few cities in the South making money. The Bull City was one of the few places in the entire U.S. that African-Americans could make good, even great, money, even during the Jim Crow Era. It’s not that racism didn’t and doesn’t exist here; it’s more that it’s always taken a backseat to money. Funny thing happened during all of this; in working together folks got to know and like one another despite the color of their skin. They say money is the root of all evil, but in Durham, it was the root for strong race-relations. But here’s the thing… what’s happening now is NOT like what has happened since 1701. An estimated 7,000 people moved to Durham last year, but there were over 9,300 evictions filed during that time. None of that is simple. So how do we keep Durham, Durham in the face of such drastic changes in our population and thus culture? We actively choose to. We welcome newcomers in a way that clearly says, “this is who we are and what we value. You get that and you with that, welcome home. You are seen. You are loved. You matter.” This Bull City History Bit was made possiBULL by our Community Partner Chrysti Peek. Sponsored Content. The Bulls of Durham 1st Edition *Special Reserve
$50.00 - $60.00
Sold out Signed, first print copy of "The Bulls of Durham" living history book. Projected book launch is April 10th, 2019, Durham's 150th Anniversary. This purchase includes your book and support for the project. "The Bulls of Durham" living history book blends Durham's rich history with stories and perspectives of our city's greats that are continuing to build upon that history. And in this way, this is the story of Durham, North Carolina through the bulls' eyes. Learn how a city that literally started from a tobacco seed in the ashes of the Civil War grew into the best city on earth. Discover how a stolen bull brought about a history shifting, global tobacco empire; and how 150 years later that relates to a British mustard company having beef with Sheila. #NotSorry Find out the backstory to how the now hippest, foodiest, tech-hub of the South also gave rise to the bullpen, billboards, branding and baseball cards. Delve into our city's strong Black history that proves "Do It Like Durham" isn't a passing trend and will give you a profound sense of reverence walking down Parrish Street. Best of all, see the common thread that runs through the stories of teachers, politicians, business owners, hip-hop artists, painters, activists, historians, architects and the real Bull City OG's. Hint: it's the BULLief that in Durham anything is possiBULL. Welcome to Durham the incrediBULL place where grit meets grace. Here all you have to have is a dream and faith the size of a tobacco seed, because well, tobacco seeds build global empires, not mustard seeds. Project book launch date: April 10, 2019 - Durham's EXACT150th Anniversary. Cover Art by DeCario Allen. On Sale On Sale Tasty Tuesday Feature
$150.00
$100.00
Get your incrediBULL Durham based food and/or beverage business in front of 1000s of Bull City enthusiasts and be a Bulls of Durham Supporter at the same time. *Can use this as a Tasty Tuesday or Thirsty Thursday. You've got options.* Have your business featured on The Bulls of Durham Instagram and Facebook accounts. Share up to 10 photos of your incrediBULL crew, business or self in action. We'll work with you to create a caption that shares who you are, why you're awesome, what problem you solve for your customer, why you love Durham and which bull in the Bull City is your favorite. Because Durham.
Terms and conditions apply. We reserve the right to decline service to companies/organizations/individuals not in line with our brand. 6/14/2019 0 Comments The Bull City's Hayti
The Bulls of Durham intern CJ Jeffries worked with Angela Lee of the Hayti Heritage Center to create this section.
The Hayti District, or simply Hayti, was an independent African-American community that formed following the Civil War. Originally named after the country of Haiti, it was established by freed individuals formerly enslaved moving to the area in search of work in the growing tobacco business. Thanks to the likes of Bull Durham Tobacco Company and Duke and Sons Tobacco Company, the industry was beginning to thrive and shape the surrounding communities. James E. Shepard, North Carolina Central University's founder, was also one of the Hayti community’s founding fathers. Hayti’s prosperous neighborhood eventually succumbed to the ills of an ‘urban renewal’ project. The creation of NC Highway 147 wiped the district off the map leaving the remnants to be incorporated into Durham. Formerly enslaved Methodist Episcopal Missionary, Edian Markham along with his wife Molly, moved to Hayti to start a church in 1868, a year before Durham became incorporated. He purchased land from Minerva Fowler and constructed a brush arbor for worship. A brush arbor is a makeshift building that consists of four corner posts that hold a wood-slatted roof which is then covered with tree branches. The floors were dirt and worshipers often sat on the ground or brought their own handmade chairs. Markham and his newfound congregation eventually constructed a log church to fend off the cold from the upcoming winter. More members soon joined the congregation in the log structure which would be named the Union Bethel AME Church. In 1870, before the brick and mortar form of the church could be completed, the church’s founder Reverend Markham left Durham. A new reverend, Andrew Chambers, took over the ministry and the small congregation began to grow. As more members joined the church, plans to create a permanent structure were put in place. In 1891, what would later be named St. Joseph Church began construction with the help of the Durham famous Fitzgerald bricks. The church was constructed by the Black congregation while receiving funding from white philanthropists of the time. Its elegant architecture and detailed stained-glass windows drew praise and awe from many, including Booker T. Washington. He is recounted saying, “Never in all my travels have I seen a church as great as St. Joseph’s.” In its heyday, the community was a part of Black Wall Street which boasted 600 plus businesses and homes and was totally economically self-sustainable. The Hayti District was home to all classes and more than 200 black-owned and operated businesses. The historically entrepreneurial community paved the way for theaters, barber shops, libraries, jazz venues, schools, the Lincoln Hospital and more. Today, the Hayti Heritage Center is the last remaining original structure tied to the Hayti community. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Hayti Heritage Center has become a hub in the Durham community as a cultural enclave since 1975. The Hayti Heritage Center is currently regarded for its history, participation in the arts, and community involvement. Since its opening, it has been a host for poets, artists, historians, and one of the longest running African American film festivals, the Hayti Heritage Film Festival. This excerpt is from "The Bulls of Durham" living history book. Get your copy today to discover Durham's IncrediBULL history from 1701 to February 2019. This Bull City History bit was brought to you by our Community Partner Brian Bonomo Photography. Sponsored Content. Bits of Bull City History
$75.00
Sponsorship of a Durham History post on social media as well as a microblog on TheBullsOfDurham.com. These are mega-hits reaching 1000s of Durhamites. Durham LOVES its history. Great way to show a large, growing & engage Durham audience you truly care about Durham, it's people, and it's history. On Sale On Sale Tasty Tuesday Feature
$150.00
$100.00
Get your incrediBULL Durham based food and/or beverage business in front of 1000s of Bull City enthusiasts and be a Bulls of Durham Supporter at the same time. *Can use this as a Tasty Tuesday or Thirsty Thursday. You've got options.* Have your business featured on The Bulls of Durham Instagram and Facebook accounts. Share up to 10 photos of your incrediBULL crew, business or self in action. We'll work with you to create a caption that shares who you are, why you're awesome, what problem you solve for your customer, why you love Durham and which bull in the Bull City is your favorite. Because Durham.
Terms and conditions apply. We reserve the right to decline service to companies/organizations/individuals not in line with our brand. 6/11/2019 0 Comments Bull City's Once "Hated" Street
The largest Civil War surrender took Durham at what is now known as Bennett Place for no other reason than it was a convenient place for Generals Sherman and Johnston to meet. Can only imagine how ‘convenient’ that felt to the Bennett family. The surrender took three tries and eleven days. Meanwhile, there’s a lot of idle soldiers. Uh-oh. Naturally, they went about ransacking the local tobacco factories, clearing them out of all their goods.
Washington Duke returned to what looked and truly felt like complete ruin. That is until orders for Durham’s very distinct, sweet, high-addictive Brightleaf tobacco began flooding through Durham Station. Duke’s tobacco company would go onto heights no one thought possiBULL. His original name for his tobacco company was “Pro Bono Publico” meaning For the Public Good until George W. Watts bought into the company & it was renamed “W. Duke Sons & Company.” You'll notice 'Pro Bono Publico' made a very special appearance in "The Bulls of Durham" living history book. Business was booming, but there was one Duke who was NOT smiling, the notorious carouser Brodie Duke. Brodie was NOT keen on Watts. When he purchased and created the Trinity Park area he named the streets Watts, Hated, Washington. So that going one way it read “Watts hated Washington” and from the other direction would read, “Washington hated Watts.” Dang. That's petty. The name was changed to Gregson at some point, possiBULLy because no one wanted to live or work on Hated Street or perhaps Washington Duke gave Brodie another infusion of the Duke wealth to sway him. If you head over to West Corporation Street today, near the old Durham Bulls ballpark (aka Durham Athletic Park, aka El Toro Park), you can see Brodie Duke’s building. Look closely friends & you’ll see brickwork that is as haphazard as Brodie was said to have been. He far preferred to spend his time with the ladies and liquor than being a tobacco baron. It’s incrediBULL how fitting the building is to his character and in his defense both ladies and liquor are quite lovely. More incrediBULL bits of Durham history can be found in "The Bulls of Durham" living history book. This Bull City History Bit was made possiBULL by our Community Partner Brian Bonomo Photography. Sponsored Content. The Bulls of Durham 1st Edition *Special Reserve
$50.00 - $60.00
Sold out Signed, first print copy of "The Bulls of Durham" living history book. Projected book launch is April 10th, 2019, Durham's 150th Anniversary. This purchase includes your book and support for the project. "The Bulls of Durham" living history book blends Durham's rich history with stories and perspectives of our city's greats that are continuing to build upon that history. And in this way, this is the story of Durham, North Carolina through the bulls' eyes. Learn how a city that literally started from a tobacco seed in the ashes of the Civil War grew into the best city on earth. Discover how a stolen bull brought about a history shifting, global tobacco empire; and how 150 years later that relates to a British mustard company having beef with Sheila. #NotSorry Find out the backstory to how the now hippest, foodiest, tech-hub of the South also gave rise to the bullpen, billboards, branding and baseball cards. Delve into our city's strong Black history that proves "Do It Like Durham" isn't a passing trend and will give you a profound sense of reverence walking down Parrish Street. Best of all, see the common thread that runs through the stories of teachers, politicians, business owners, hip-hop artists, painters, activists, historians, architects and the real Bull City OG's. Hint: it's the BULLief that in Durham anything is possiBULL. Welcome to Durham the incrediBULL place where grit meets grace. Here all you have to have is a dream and faith the size of a tobacco seed, because well, tobacco seeds build global empires, not mustard seeds. Project book launch date: April 10, 2019 - Durham's EXACT150th Anniversary. Cover Art by DeCario Allen. On Sale On Sale Bull City Storytime
$20.00 - $90.00
Have something special coming up in Durham and want to get the word out to an entire herd of Bull City loving folks? This affordaBULL Community Partnership Opportunity is PERFECT for you. Promote your event, sale, product line, big news via @TheBullsOfDurham stories. Our HIGHLY engaged audience loves what we love, so let us love you in our stories. Speaking from experience, Durham and most humans in general, need several reminders. Recommend to purchase 3 or more stories building up to your event, sale, etc. for best results. Pricing is per story slide. If your promotion needs more than 1 story slide purchase that number of story slides. **Stories purchased in 2019 must be utilized by 12/31/2019. *Terms and conditions apply. The Bulls Of Durham LLC reserves the right to choose what will and will not be promoted via their avenues. No *risky* business as we have Young Bulls who read our content too. Bits of Bull City History
$75.00
Sponsorship of a Durham History post on social media as well as a microblog on TheBullsOfDurham.com. These are mega-hits reaching 1000s of Durhamites. Durham LOVES its history. Great way to show a large, growing & engage Durham audience you truly care about Durham, it's people, and it's history. 6/11/2019 0 Comments The Rooftop Lady Bull
There’s a cow on someone’s roof on Chapel Hill Road
This lady bull (aka cow) gives La Vaquita Taqueria its namesake. She must be well taken care of as she looks incredible after 55 plus years of watching over the Bull City day. Her current owners touch up her paint annually, regularly clean her and even dress her up for Christmas. She is loved. The fiberglass lady bull was put on top of the building in 1963 when it was a Cow Store, a local chain of convenience stores. Cow Store was actually a collective name given to these C-stores because of the cows up top. Each individual owner named their mart. La Vaquita used to be Poe Mart. At the Cow Stores, kids could get their after-school sweet treats and adults could pull right up to get their locally grown pack of smokes. These stores even carried a small variety of groceries including milk. That’s because they originally began as Pine State dairy stores and then transitioned into C-stores. There were a few throughout the Triangle and some say there’s still one operating in the city of Hillsborough. This Cow Store location was owned and operated by the Poe family until 2000. In 2012, the Tuscaloosa-Lakewood Neighborhood Association raised funds to restore the cow for her 50th birthday in 2013. During 1997-1998 this lady bull got caught up in an unrelated, local controversy regarding flag size and height. A salesman across town was flying a gigantic US flag as a patriotic sales tactic. When the flag’s size and height came under scrutiny as violations of city codes, the rooftop cow got metaphorically thrown under the bus. Turns out Durham loved the cow more than attempts to monetize off our nation’s flag. In the end, the lady bull was named a Durham landmark, a federal judge declared size does matter when it comes to flags and Durham citizens reduced hot-air emissions by cutting the size of the City Council from thirteen to the six seats. Definitely an only in Durham story. More incrediBULL bits of Durham history can be found in @TheBullsOfDurham living history book. This Bull City History Bit was made possiBULL by our Community Partner Van Alen Apartments. Sponsored content. Bits of Bull City History
$75.00
Sponsorship of a Durham History post on social media as well as a microblog on TheBullsOfDurham.com. These are mega-hits reaching 1000s of Durhamites. Durham LOVES its history. Great way to show a large, growing & engage Durham audience you truly care about Durham, it's people, and it's history. On Sale On Sale Bull City Storytime
$20.00 - $90.00
Have something special coming up in Durham and want to get the word out to an entire herd of Bull City loving folks? This affordaBULL Community Partnership Opportunity is PERFECT for you. Promote your event, sale, product line, big news via @TheBullsOfDurham stories. Our HIGHLY engaged audience loves what we love, so let us love you in our stories. Speaking from experience, Durham and most humans in general, need several reminders. Recommend to purchase 3 or more stories building up to your event, sale, etc. for best results. Pricing is per story slide. If your promotion needs more than 1 story slide purchase that number of story slides. **Stories purchased in 2019 must be utilized by 12/31/2019. *Terms and conditions apply. The Bulls Of Durham LLC reserves the right to choose what will and will not be promoted via their avenues. No *risky* business as we have Young Bulls who read our content too. The Bulls of Durham (Preorder)
$29.00 - $39.00
"The Bulls of Durham" living history book. Launched on April 10th, 2019, Durham's 150th Anniversary. "The Bulls of Durham" living history book blends Durham's rich history with stories and perspectives of our city's greats that are continuing to build upon that history. And in this way, this is the story of Durham, North Carolina through the bulls' eyes. Learn how a city that literally started from a tobacco seed in the ashes of the Civil War grew into the best city on earth. Discover how a stolen bull brought about a history shifting, global tobacco empire; and how 150 years later that relates to a British mustard company having beef with Sheila. #NotSorry Find out the backstory to how the now hippest, foodiest, tech-hub of the South also gave rise to the bullpen, billboards, branding and baseball cards. Delve into our city's strong Black history that proves "Do It Like Durham" isn't a passing trend and will give you a profound sense of reverence walking down Parrish Street. Best of all, see the common thread that runs through the stories of teachers, politicians, business owners, hip-hop artists, painters, activists, historians, architects and the real Bull City OG's. Hint: it's the BULLief that in Durham anything is possiBULL. Welcome to Durham the incrediBULL place where grit meets grace. Here all you have to have is a dream and faith the size of a tobacco seed, because well, tobacco seeds build global empires, not mustard seeds. Project book launch date: April 10, 2019 - Durham's 150th Anniversary. Cover Art by DeCario Allen. 6/4/2019 0 Comments The Last Bull Durham Ad
Did you know there’s only ONE original Bull Durham Tobacco ad remaining in the Bull City?
You can find the last known Bull Durham Tobacco ad on the side of 156 Ramseur Street, which houses Teaser’s Mens Club. Hey, that’s where it is and the best view is from the back side, albeit you can catch a glimpse from Main Street. It looks as though it was put on top of an older Bull Durham ad that included a bull with the infamous low fence. Is it ironic that there’s now an air vent duct right through a tobacco ad? Given that the focus was to bring Bull Durham to a global audience and bring their money back to the Bull, it makes sense that there is only one of these ads remaining. It wouldn’t have made sense to advertise for the tobacco that is the majority of the town’s employer. A timeless marketing lesson. It’s no coincidence that Bull Durham tobacco was a global tobacco empire. W.T. Blackwell understood the value of art and the nuances of branding like no one had before. Essentially if it stood still long enough, he’d have a Bull Durham ad put on it. Furthermore, he was absolutely obsessive and relentless about business. Always growing. Always bringing in money. Never stop expanding. The “wall dog” ads could be seen through the U.S., Canada, Europe, and even some parts of Asia. Yes, that’s vague as Asia is the largest continent in the world, but that’s what’s in the history books to work with. It was rumored for nearly 150 years that there was a Bull Durham ad painted on the Great Pyramid of Kafu. That turned out to be a wild embellishment perpetuated by men and dispelled by women. That’s covered in depth in "The Bulls of Durham" living history book. Have you seen the last Bull Durham Tobacco wall dog ad in Durham? Have you ever seen one in a different city? Can you guess what building @BrianBonomoPhotography got access to in order to get this unBULLievaBULL photo? This Bull City History Bit was brought to you in partnership with Brian Bonomo Photography. Thank you for being an incrediBULL & valuaBULL Community Partner. The Bulls of Durham 1st Edition *Special Reserve
$50.00 - $60.00
Sold out Signed, first print copy of "The Bulls of Durham" living history book. Projected book launch is April 10th, 2019, Durham's 150th Anniversary. This purchase includes your book and support for the project. "The Bulls of Durham" living history book blends Durham's rich history with stories and perspectives of our city's greats that are continuing to build upon that history. And in this way, this is the story of Durham, North Carolina through the bulls' eyes. Learn how a city that literally started from a tobacco seed in the ashes of the Civil War grew into the best city on earth. Discover how a stolen bull brought about a history shifting, global tobacco empire; and how 150 years later that relates to a British mustard company having beef with Sheila. #NotSorry Find out the backstory to how the now hippest, foodiest, tech-hub of the South also gave rise to the bullpen, billboards, branding and baseball cards. Delve into our city's strong Black history that proves "Do It Like Durham" isn't a passing trend and will give you a profound sense of reverence walking down Parrish Street. Best of all, see the common thread that runs through the stories of teachers, politicians, business owners, hip-hop artists, painters, activists, historians, architects and the real Bull City OG's. Hint: it's the BULLief that in Durham anything is possiBULL. Welcome to Durham the incrediBULL place where grit meets grace. Here all you have to have is a dream and faith the size of a tobacco seed, because well, tobacco seeds build global empires, not mustard seeds. Project book launch date: April 10, 2019 - Durham's EXACT150th Anniversary. Cover Art by DeCario Allen. On Sale On Sale Bull City Storytime
$20.00 - $90.00
Have something special coming up in Durham and want to get the word out to an entire herd of Bull City loving folks? This affordaBULL Community Partnership Opportunity is PERFECT for you. Promote your event, sale, product line, big news via @TheBullsOfDurham stories. Our HIGHLY engaged audience loves what we love, so let us love you in our stories. Speaking from experience, Durham and most humans in general, need several reminders. Recommend to purchase 3 or more stories building up to your event, sale, etc. for best results. Pricing is per story slide. If your promotion needs more than 1 story slide purchase that number of story slides. **Stories purchased in 2019 must be utilized by 12/31/2019. *Terms and conditions apply. The Bulls Of Durham LLC reserves the right to choose what will and will not be promoted via their avenues. No *risky* business as we have Young Bulls who read our content too. Bits of Bull City History
$75.00
Sponsorship of a Durham History post on social media as well as a microblog on TheBullsOfDurham.com. These are mega-hits reaching 1000s of Durhamites. Durham LOVES its history. Great way to show a large, growing & engage Durham audience you truly care about Durham, it's people, and it's history.
Durham’s flag was designed by artist Al Nichols who won a city-wide contest in 1989. In 1991 the City of Durham did their own take on the flag to make the city logo boasting ‘City of Medicine, 1869,’ for their logo. In 2017, as Steve Schewel was getting reading to take office as Mayor, Durham released an updated logo dropping the City of Medicine tagline and the year of incorporation.
Interestingly the Bull City logo revision cost $20,000 and the Oak City neighbors dropped over $200,000 on their new logo in the same year. Proof it pays to know who you are. Each detail of the Durham’s city flag is meant to capture what was coined the city’s “New Spirit,” in the late 80s and early 90s. The colors represent:
The seven stars are both representative of the seven star cluster of the Taurus constellation, aka The Pleiades, and the spirit of Durham. Each star is meant to represent one of the following:
This Bull City History Bit was brought to you by our Community Partner Brian Bonomo Photography's sponsorship. Thank you for valuing the importance of sharing Durham's history with the Durham community. The Bulls of Durham 1st Edition *Special Reserve
$50.00 - $60.00
Sold out Signed, first print copy of "The Bulls of Durham" living history book. Projected book launch is April 10th, 2019, Durham's 150th Anniversary. This purchase includes your book and support for the project. "The Bulls of Durham" living history book blends Durham's rich history with stories and perspectives of our city's greats that are continuing to build upon that history. And in this way, this is the story of Durham, North Carolina through the bulls' eyes. Learn how a city that literally started from a tobacco seed in the ashes of the Civil War grew into the best city on earth. Discover how a stolen bull brought about a history shifting, global tobacco empire; and how 150 years later that relates to a British mustard company having beef with Sheila. #NotSorry Find out the backstory to how the now hippest, foodiest, tech-hub of the South also gave rise to the bullpen, billboards, branding and baseball cards. Delve into our city's strong Black history that proves "Do It Like Durham" isn't a passing trend and will give you a profound sense of reverence walking down Parrish Street. Best of all, see the common thread that runs through the stories of teachers, politicians, business owners, hip-hop artists, painters, activists, historians, architects and the real Bull City OG's. Hint: it's the BULLief that in Durham anything is possiBULL. Welcome to Durham the incrediBULL place where grit meets grace. Here all you have to have is a dream and faith the size of a tobacco seed, because well, tobacco seeds build global empires, not mustard seeds. Project book launch date: April 10, 2019 - Durham's EXACT150th Anniversary. Cover Art by DeCario Allen. Bits of Bull City History
$75.00
Sponsorship of a Durham History post on social media as well as a microblog on TheBullsOfDurham.com. These are mega-hits reaching 1000s of Durhamites. Durham LOVES its history. Great way to show a large, growing & engage Durham audience you truly care about Durham, it's people, and it's history.
The Old Bull building is a legend.
Like all legends, it has had to reinvent itself several times to stay relevant. It’s changed in shape, height, color, and purpose. But just like the rest of us, even legends go through awkward phases. They just have the misfortune of doing it in front of cameras and the masses. It’s a good thing the Old Bull got its awkward pink, metal straight-jacket phase outta the way before the days of social media. What? Things got really awkward in Durham concerning architecture in the ‘60s. About the same time the stunning hosiery mill on Bartlett Durham’s Cursed Corner was getting the windows bricked up to give it a ‘modern look,’ the Old Bull was being covered up with pink sheet metal. More on the Cursed Corner another time. Unless of course, you’ve read all about it in “The Bulls of Durham” living history book. Right now we’ve gotta work through this not-so-pretty-in-pink situation. And it’s a situation alright. For reasons unknown, in 1965 the historic Old Bull that was built of and for W.T. Blackwell’s Bull Durham tobacco in 1874, complete with fully functioning bull bellow, made of R.B. Fitzgerald bricks was completely encased in PINK sheet metal. Pink. Sheet. Metal. That nonsense was still in place when the building was deemed a historic site in 1974, the building’s 100th year. The Old Bull is now in its 145-year and the only thing older in the Bull City is Durham’s official status as a city. It’s been lovingly restored by Capitol Broadcasting Company and is now home to both business and residential tenants. Why the building was covered in pink metal will remain a mystery, just like why a portion of the building was reduced by 2 stories. How the heck do you just remove the top half of a building, let alone a portion of it? File that under ‘Only in Durham.’ Perhaps the only souls who know are the ghosts who are said to roam the halls at night including that of W.T. Blackwell himself. This Bull City History Bit was made possiBULL by our Community Partner Brian Bonomo. Sponsored content. The Bulls of Durham 1st Edition *Special Reserve
$50.00 - $60.00
Sold out Signed, first print copy of "The Bulls of Durham" living history book. Projected book launch is April 10th, 2019, Durham's 150th Anniversary. This purchase includes your book and support for the project. "The Bulls of Durham" living history book blends Durham's rich history with stories and perspectives of our city's greats that are continuing to build upon that history. And in this way, this is the story of Durham, North Carolina through the bulls' eyes. Learn how a city that literally started from a tobacco seed in the ashes of the Civil War grew into the best city on earth. Discover how a stolen bull brought about a history shifting, global tobacco empire; and how 150 years later that relates to a British mustard company having beef with Sheila. #NotSorry Find out the backstory to how the now hippest, foodiest, tech-hub of the South also gave rise to the bullpen, billboards, branding and baseball cards. Delve into our city's strong Black history that proves "Do It Like Durham" isn't a passing trend and will give you a profound sense of reverence walking down Parrish Street. Best of all, see the common thread that runs through the stories of teachers, politicians, business owners, hip-hop artists, painters, activists, historians, architects and the real Bull City OG's. Hint: it's the BULLief that in Durham anything is possiBULL. Welcome to Durham the incrediBULL place where grit meets grace. Here all you have to have is a dream and faith the size of a tobacco seed, because well, tobacco seeds build global empires, not mustard seeds. Project book launch date: April 10, 2019 - Durham's EXACT150th Anniversary. Cover Art by DeCario Allen.
The following is an excerpt from "The Bulls of Durham" living history book.
In Durham’s signature defiance of societal norms, the city houses a magic place where everyone gets along regardless of their size, gender, religion, skin color, sexual identity, or any other part of their existence. Within the 108.3 square miles of the city, there is one place where everyone is happy, loving and wearing matching outfits. Not only is everyone rooting for the home team - everyone IS the home team. And the team wins every time they play, even if they lose, because Durham. This sacred space is known as the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP). This goes all the way back to the 1840's which is when the first recorded baseball games in Durham took place, albeit not in the same location. This is before Bartlett Durham had purchased his acreage and cursed the corner just down the way from DBAP. As farmers brought their tobacco in for auction, opportunistic entrepreneurs found ways to care for and entertain the recently-paid farmers. Once the farmers had collected their auction payments, they had time to enjoy life for a spell before heading back to the farms to start the exhausting process of growing the 13-month crop. By the 1840's, the Pinhook area was in full swing providing all the carousing a farmer could handle and perhaps a bit more. Baseball was a natural and more family friendly, extension of the entertainment line up. Baseball teams began to crop up and provide perfect entertainment on those hot summer nights. A simple pastime to bring the community together. Some things don’t change. |
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