Born into enslavement, Nellie and Toney Strayhorn purchased approximately 30 acres in Carrboro in 1879.They built a log cabin and operated a small farm on present-day Jones Ferry Road. They made a living by selling milk, butter and seasonal fruits and vegetables to residents in town.

                     

Toney taught himself to read and write and became a skilled brick mason and preacher of the Gospel.

Nellie and Toney’s family gradually outgrew the cabin. The original log structure is now enclosed into the front living area of the existing house. A second story and an ell to the rear were added by 1915.

 

Toney and Nellie’s Great granddaughter Dolores Clark now owns the house and lives there along with some of her family. The Strayhorn House has been continuously inhabited by six generations of the Strayhorn family and descendants.

 

The Town of Carrboro has taken an active role in helping the family preserve the structure. The Town was instrumental in repairing one chimney and replacing a collapsed chimney in 2010. The Town has recently placed a plaque next to Jones Ferry Rd, which recognizes the importance of this house and family to the community.

 

In 2023 Preservation Chapel Hill began a project to improve water runoff, reinforce the foundation and crawlspace, level uneven floors, and replace failing HVAC ducting. The project was made possible by a $20,000 challenge grant from the Marion S. Covington Foundation. PCH raised an additional $35,000 matching Covington’s $20,000. This property is listed as none of this recent preservation work shows on the outside.