136 W. FRANKLIN ST. / TYLER'S ESSO / OLYMPIC ESSO / NORWOOD BROTHERS ESSO
Cross street:
Built in
1949-1950
/ Modified in 1963
Businesses:
Architectural style:
Construction type:
Neighborhood:
Type:
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Last updated
- Tue, 08/15/2023 - 10:25am by SteveR
Comments
Cross street:
Built in
1949-1950
/ Modified in 1963
Businesses:
Architectural style:
Construction type:
Neighborhood:
Type:
Built in 1949-1950 on the site of the Ida M. Smith property/J. Ralph Weaver House,[1] the property/building/business was owned by the Esso Standard Oil Company and first operated by W. N. Tyler as Tyler's Esso.[2] In early 1955, Bill Albans purchased the business and renamed it Olympic Esso.[3]
In March 1956 brothers Harry Ross Norwood and James F. Norwood purchased the business together, renaming it Norwood Brothers Esso Service (they parted ways in early 1959 however).[4] Norwood Bros. was a segregated business, and calls for its boycott were made in the early 1960s; it voluntarily integrated in 1963.
An addition was made to the west side of the building in 1963.[5]
In 1976-1977 the property was sold.[6] At some point between 1981 and the early 1990s it became a parking lot. It is now the location of a group of very large, modern buildings.
View north east, circa 1970 (photo excerpt, via Hidden Voices)
View north, 1951, building is in upper left background (via CHHS's Hill Life)
View north, circa 1970 (image via the Chapel Hill Historical Society)
View north, circa 1970 (image via the Chapel Hill Historical Society)
View north, circa 1970 (image via the Chapel Hill Historical Society)
March 10, 1950 (via CHW)
April 4, 1955 (via CHNL)
February 1956 ad (via DTH)
March 1, 1956 (via CHNL)
March 2, 1956 (via CHW)
The site today, view north east (June 2019, via Google Streetview)
SOURCES:
[1] Orange County Register of Deeds, Deed Book 132, pages 14, 156
[2] Chapel Hill Weekly March 10, 1950
[3] Chapel Hill News Leader April 4, 1955
[4] Chapel Hill News Leader March 1, 1956
[5] Permit application/listed in newspaper
[6] The 1976 Chapel Hill directory lists the Norwood Brothers business, the 1977 directory lists the building as vacant
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