The old NC School Book Depository building is located at 811 West Hargett Street. The particular part of W. Hargett Street that it occupies is a bit of an anomoly, as it exists for about two blocks before it turns in to Snow Ave., before turning back in to W. Hargett Street.
This building is now home to BFE Architects. Sadly, they don’t have a web site. You can find them on the web at http://bfe-architecture.com.

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This was another chance encounter, as I was previously under the impression that Oakwood and the Raleigh National Cemetery were the oldest ones in town.

City Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Raleigh. It was established by an Act of the North Carolina General Assembly in 1798. It began as a four acre tract: two acres for burial of local residents, one acre for visitors, and one acre for blacks. Land was added in the 1840’s establishing its current boundary which encompasses more than 7 acres. Actual records of the cemetery were destroyed by fire in the 1890’s and again in the early 1930’s. The only existing records are those made by past Superintendents. The City Cemetery is surrounded by an iron fence that once was located at the State Capitol.

City Of Raleigh, Cemetery Study

Perhaps the most famous person buried here is Joel Lane, best known for his direct part in the decision to locate the state capital in Wake County and for donating 1,000 acres of his property which would later become the city as we know it today. Lane Street was named in his honor.

Since I first moved to Raleigh, I had always wondered if the 1914 on the big building comprising a part of City Market was an address or “since” designation. I’ve posted about City Market in the rain and posted a street level view and until now, I haven’t been curious enough to look it up. In fact, the 1914 refers to the date at which it opened to provide a market for seafood, vegetables, home baked items, and other types of food:

From October 1, 1914 until the mid 1940’s the City Market flourished. Farmers from the Eastern part of the state came regularly in their trucks and horse drawn carts bringing produce, poultry, seafood and flowers. Home baked goods were also a favorite among Raleigh city wives. On Saturdays you would find farmers gathered at the Market and in Moore Square (known as the “the Grove”) visiting and picnicking with their family and friends.

With the advent of supermarkets and the opening of a new Farmers Market off Capital Boulevard in 1957, the old City Market no longer satisfied the need of Raleigh households so in June of 1957 the City Council adopted a resolution to close it. In 1959 the building was sold to an individual who leased it to a furniture store.

In 1980, the City Council secured a grant from the North Carolina Division of Archives & History to study the architectural resources surrounding Moore Square. As a result, the City Market was recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. The City then began work to rehabilitate the Market and nearby buildings.

Today City Market is square in the middle of downtown Raleigh’s explosive growth of nightlife. Filled with plenty of bars and restaurants, there are also many niche and spelcialty stores.