Dix Park’s Historic ‘Stone Houses’ Restored, Repurposed Thanks to $5 Million Gift
‘Stone Houses’ at Historic NC Asylum Restored as Park Amenities
SECU, SECU Foundation, Dix Park Conservancy, NC DHHS, City of Raleigh Celebrate Project’s Start with Groundbreaking
“Then and now, these historic houses are about people helping people.”
(Raleigh, NC) - May 31, 2024 - At a ribbon cutting today, Dix Park’s trio of century-old Stone Houses began a new life as vibrant hubs of the 308-acre urban campus.
Built in 1923, the former dwellings served as the entry point for thousands of patients and guests to the former Dorothea Dix Hospital, then a landmark mental health facility. In many cases, Maurer Architecture preserved items such as original railings and telephone nooks while refinishing vintage wood paneling and flooring.
The restoration and repurposing of the 100-year-old Superintendent’s House, Physicians’ House, and Gatekeeper’s Cottage was made possible by the State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) and the SECU Foundation via a combined gift of $5 million.
Following renovations:
The Gatekeeper’s Cottage will serve as a welcome center for the historic Boylan Drive entrance at Dix Park. The Jandy Ammons Foundation has sponsored a historic display in the cottage tracing the evolution of the campus and the Stone Houses.
The Superintendent’s House will host the Dix Park Conservancy staff offices including meeting and conference space.
The Physician’s House will provide office space for City of Raleigh Volunteer Services staff and host space for artists in residence.
The buildings are surrounded by outdoor seating and classroom space, gardens, and an accessible pathway connecting the park to the nearby Rocky Branch greenway.
The transformation of the Stone Houses is a key part of Dix Park’s strategic plan, which also includes the construction of the state-of-the-art Gipson Play Plaza and popular events such as the Dreamville music festival.
“While these buildings will serve to welcome visitors, their rich history will also be preserved, contributing to the legacy of the Dorothea Dix Hospital Campus,” said Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin.
For more information, please contact:
Anna Torres, Sr. Comms & Marketing Manager, Dix Park Conservancy, anna.torres@dixparkconservancy.org
Sandra Jones, SVP – Communications, SECU, (919) 508-8773, sandra.jones@ncsecu.org
QUOTES
Mona Moon, Board Chair, SECU:
“We are honored to be a part of this important work to preserve the history, legacy, and natural beauty of Dix Park. The Dorothea Dix property has a history rooted in being a community resource that supports health and wellbeing. This site has been important to generations of people before us, and with the official opening of the restored houses, will remain important to generations of people that follow.”
Chris Ayers, Board Chair, SECU Foundation:
“We celebrate the vision of Dix Park and the significant efforts of the Conservancy and others involved in the rehabilitation of these Stone Houses. High-impact projects like this rely on the involvement and support from the community to be successful, and SECU Foundation is pleased to be part of making your vision a reality. The Park’s prominent gateway for visitors is a wonderful example of how People Helping People® can help educate, uplift, and improve the lives of people here in the Triangle and across North Carolina.”
Janet Cowell, President & CEO, Dix Park Conservancy:
“SECU’s traditions and values make it the perfect partner for Dix Park on this landmark project. From its founding, SECU has supported state employees, thousands of which have worked at our campus over the decades. And fundamentally, SECU is about people helping people. The professionals who lived in these historic homes also dedicated themselves to helping people. And going forward, Dix Park will help countless visitors connect with their environment and community. We thank SECU and the SECU Foundation as well as all our partners for their generous support. And we look forward to enjoying the new facilities, reflecting on the thousands of people who came before, and celebrating the countless visitors who will learn and flourish here in the future.”
ABOUT STATE EMPLOYEES’ CREDIT UNION AND STATE EMPLOYEES’ CREDIT UNION FOUNDATION
A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, and federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), SECU has been providing employees of the state of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for over 86 years. SECU is the second largest credit union in the United States with $54 billion in assets. It serves nearly 2.8 million members through 275 branch offices, over 1,100 ATMs, Member Services Support via phone, www.ncsecu.org, and the SECU Mobile App.
The SECU Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization funded by the contributions of SECU members, promotes local community development in North Carolina primarily through high-impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare, and human services. Since 2004, SECU Foundation has made a collective financial commitment of over $258 million for initiatives to benefit North Carolinians statewide.
ABOUT DIX PARK CONSERVANCY
The City of Raleigh owns and operates Dorothea Dix Park. Dix Park Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that exists to support the City in its efforts, serve as its philanthropic and community engagement partner, and ensure the creation and long-term success of Dorothea Dix Park as a place for everyone – a transformative public space for community, health, and celebration that will enrich our quality of life in North Carolina.