Triangle Modernist Houses

Compiled by George Smart, Jr.                                                          

Matthew Nowicki

Audio Segment on Dorton Arena (mp3)

Deitrick graduated cum laude from Wake Forest College in 1916. During World War I, Deitrick served as a second lieutenant in the United States Army.   In 1920 he married Elizabeth Hunter of Raleigh. He took up graduate work in architecture at Columbia University in New York City and was employed in the office of Raymond Hood. In 1924, Deitrick moved to Raleigh to work for architect James Salter in school construction. Salter’s practice was failing, however, and Deitrick quit the Salter firm in 1925 to accept employment with the school board as construction supervisor for Raleigh public schools.   Later he started his own practice which would become the largest in Raleigh.  He would design several schools, including Broughton High School, Daniels Junior High, and Sherwood-Bates Elementary.

Byron Burney, Robert Lyons, and Joe Kovac worked for Deitrick in the mid-1950s but left when he began to specialize in modern architecture.    In 1938, Deitrick bought Raleigh's old water tower (below) and renovated the first three floors for his firm. 

In 1952, Deitrick finished up Raleigh's most well known modernist landmark, the J. S. Dorton Arena, after the 1950 accidental death of the original architect, Matthew (Maciej) Nowicki.  Alongside him were structural engineer Fred Severud of Severud-Elstad-Kruegar and contractor William Muirhead. Dorton Arena was an instant international landmark.  Deitrick also designed Broughton High School, much of Wake Forest University, and with Milton Small the original modernist Carolina Country Club building.

In 1959 Deitrick sold his firm to associate Guy Crampton and continued working there as a consultant.   He later deeded the building to AIANC and kept an office there until his death in 1974.  One of the AIANC's highest awards is named for him.  This is a shot looking up from four floors up.  AIANC is moving to new headquarters and the building will be sold. 

1959 - 1900 McDonald Lane, Raleigh.  Designed by Deitrick as a retirement house. His name was never on the deed because he worked out a deal with the woman who owned the property, Annie Briggs.  He wanted to build a one-story house (unlike his traditional Georgian house on Glenwood Avenue, below) for his wife and himself because they were getting older. He owned the house but not the land, and in his will deeded it back to the woman who owned the land.  She sold it to Thomas Briggs and Margaret Briggs Slaughter in 1964,  Bought by current owner Jane Watson in 2003.

1935 - The William Banks Dewar and Narcissa Riddick Dewar Residence, somewhere on Vance Street, Raleigh.  No photo.  Do you have one?