Richard Stanhope Pullen
| Richard Stanhope Pullen | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 18, 1822 Neuse Station, Wake County, North Carolina, U.S. |
| 💀Died | June 23, 1895 (aged 72) Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.June 23, 1895 (aged 72) |
| Burial place | Oakwood Cemetery |
| 💼 Occupation | Businessman, real estate developer, philanthropist |
| Known for | Donation of land for North Carolina State University; donation of Pullen Park; development of Historic Oakwood |
| Family | Turner Pullen (father); Elizabeth Smith Pullen (mother); John Turner Pullen (nephew) |
Richard Stanhope Pullen (September 18, 1822 – June 23, 1895), known as Stanhope Pullen, was an American businessman, real estate developer, and philanthropist in Raleigh, North Carolina.[1] He is best known for donating the land that established North Carolina State University and for providing the site for Pullen Park, the first public park in North Carolina.[2][3] Pullen was a major figure in the urban development of Raleigh during the late 19th century, particularly through the creation of residential districts such as Historic Oakwood and Mordecai.[4]
A private individual, Pullen refused to have his photograph taken or his portrait painted during his lifetime, leaving no visual record of his appearance.[1] His legacy is maintained through institutional landmarks and the R. Stanhope Pullen Society at North Carolina State University.[3]
Early life and family
Pullen was born on September 18, 1822, in the Neuse Station community of northern Wake County, North Carolina.[1] He was the son of Turner Pullen and Elizabeth Smith Pullen. His birthplace, known as the Pullen House, was the center of a plantation located approximately nine miles north of Raleigh.[4] Turner Pullen was a planter who, according to 1840 and 1850 census records, enslaved twenty-four people.[1]
Pullen's maternal uncles, Richard and Benjamin Smith, were merchants in early Raleigh. By 1850, Pullen listed his occupation as a merchant, likely working for Richard Smith while residing on his father's plantation.[1]
Management of the Smith estate
In 1852, following the death of Richard Smith, Pullen moved to Raleigh to manage the financial affairs of his widowed aunt, Penelope Smith.[1] Pullen performed these services without wages. He maintained the Smith fortune through the American Civil War and the Reconstruction era.[4] Upon Penelope Smith's death, Pullen was named her principal heir, providing the capital for his subsequent philanthropic and development projects.[1]
Real estate and "Pullentown"
Pullen became a real estate developer by purchasing large tracts of land on the outskirts of Raleigh and "cutting through" streets at his own expense. He then deeded these streets to the city, a move that accelerated urban expansion.[4] His primary development, an enclave northeast of downtown Raleigh, was known for many years as "Pullentown". This area later became part of the Historic Oakwood and Mordecai neighborhoods.[2]
| Location | Description |
|---|---|
| The original "Pullentown" houses built 1881–1891; featured Victorian architecture.[4] | |
| Developed into a residential strip for Raleigh's affluent citizens.[1] | |
| Original Victorian plantation house; moved in 1999 to 10801 Durant Road.[4] |
Philanthropy
North Carolina State University
On March 22, 1887, Pullen donated the original 62 acres of the Eason Lee farm to the state for the establishment of the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, now North Carolina State University.[3] Pullen believed previous sites considered by the state were insufficient for future expansion. He personally participated in laying out the roads and planting trees on the original campus.[1] His support for industrial education also influenced the founding of the institution's textile programs, now the Wilson School of Textiles.[3]
Pullen Park
Concurrent with his university grant, Pullen donated 66 acres to the City of Raleigh for the creation of Pullen Park, the first public park in North Carolina.[2] He collaborated with park keeper Wiley Howell to landscape the area, which was previously described as a "cow pasture."[4] Pullen financed the park's first swimming pools, a pavilion, and a fountain.[2]
Other institutional support
Pullen provided support to several other educational and religious institutions:
Peace Institute: In 1872, he acquired the mortgaged Peace Institute to preserve it as a seminary for women's education.[1]
UNC Greensboro: Along with R. T. Gray, he donated the original 10-acre site for the Normal and Industrial School in Greensboro (now University of North Carolina at Greensboro).[5]
Edenton Street Methodist Church: A member of the church, he was the largest donor for its 19th-century building structure.[1]
Meredith College: In 1891, the site of his personal residence at 213 East Edenton Street was acquired for the construction of the Baptist Female University, now Meredith College.[4]
Personal life and character
Pullen was a lifelong bachelor who lived primarily in downtown boarding houses despite his extensive property holdings.[1] He avoided corporate board positions and public office.
His closest companion was Washington Ligon, a formerly enslaved man who served as Pullen's personal servant and handyman.[2] Ligon assisted Pullen in landscaping Pullen Park. Pullen later helped Ligon purchase property in the Method area of Raleigh for his retirement.[1]
Pullen was known for his refusal to allow his likeness to be recorded. He declined all requests for a portrait or photograph, even after his university land grant. When a delegation from NC State sought a portrait, he reportedly stated, "Well, they'll never get it. Good morning."[3]
Death and legacy
Pullen died on June 23, 1895. He was buried in the Pullen family plot at Oakwood Cemetery, marked by a granite obelisk.[4] Seven African American friends served as his pallbearers.[1]
In 1902, the original Pullen Hall was built on the NC State campus in his honor; it served as a library and assembly hall until it was destroyed by fire in 1965.[6] A replacement Pullen Hall was completed in 1990. In 1993, the university established the R. Stanhope Pullen Society to recognize donors who make planned gifts to the institution.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 "Richard Stanhope Pullen's Role", NCPedia, State Library of North Carolina.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Pullen Park History", ArcGIS StoryMaps.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Philanthropy at NC State", NCSU News.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 "Pullen Legacy and Monuments", North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
- ↑ "UNC Greensboro Founding", University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
- ↑ "Pullen Hall Fire and History", NCSU Libraries Special Collections.
External links
Richard Stanhope Pullen at NCPedia
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