SAUL EDELBAUM (1908-2003)

Born in Danzig, Poland, Edelbaum attended the College of the City of NY from 1926-1928, followed by a 1933 graduation in Architecture from Yale.  He worked for Harvey Stevenson and Dear Evans Moore & Woodbridge.  He formed Edelbaum/Webster Architects with Ida B. Webster in 1947, one of architecture's earliest male/female partnerships who were not married to each other.

In addition to commercial projects, the firm became the preferred choice for many prominent southern Jewish families seeking Modernist houses.  In 1980 it merged with Weiss and Whelan to form Weiss Whelan Edelbaum and Webster.  In the mid-1990's, the firm broke up and Edelbaum practiced briefly with partner Giorgio Cavaglieri until 2001. He retired and moved to Meadow Lakes, in Hightstown NJ.

1950 - The Eli and Sara Evans House, 1401 Forestview Street, Durham.  Merchant Eli Evans, owner of Evans United Department Stores, was mayor of Durham for 12 years (1951-1963), and played an important role improving race relations in the city. He helped Durham eventually desegregate its public accommodations, city agencies and schools. He also gave his time and energy to Jewish affairs, serving at least a decade in each of the following roles: president of the Beth El congregation in Durham, chairman of the statewide Bonds for Israel campaign and president of the statewide United Jewish Appeal.  House photo by George Smart.

The rambling modern split-level house, with Roman brick walls, originally occupied the entire block between Wells and Bivins streets.  On the rear, the house wraps around two sides of an original swimming pool, with an adjacent round, flat-roofed pool house and large terrace. The Evanses entertained here frequently in the pool and courtyard space.  Their house was often called the “Jewish Country Club” as the Jewish Evanses were not allowed in other Country Clubs at the time.  The house is now owned by William and Garrie Kingsbury.  Photo from 1957:  Sara, sons Eli and Bob, and father Eli.

1952 - The ?? Residence, 2530 Forest Drive, Charlotte. Sold to George and Emily Baxter.  Sold around 1978 to Stuart and Sandra Wollman Kornstein.  Sold in 1995 to Mollie and Charles (Chris) Lowe.  They hired Murray Whisnant to design a master bedroom addition, completed around 1996.  Sold in 2003 to Luther Cochrane.  Sold in 2004 to Emily and A. Zach Smith III.  The Smiths destroyed the house but replaced it in 2009 with a Modernist residence designed by their daughter.

Year unknown - The ?? Residence, Shoreham Drive, Charlotte.  Sandy Kornstein recalls there was another Edelbaum house near her house on Forest Drive on the north side of Shoreham.  It appears to have been torn down, needs verification.

1952 - The Herman and Anita Blumenthal Residence, 3850 Sedgewood Circle, Charlotte.  
The family lived there for over 50 years.  Sold in 2010 to APS Sedgewood LLC.  For sale in 2011.

1960 - The Seymour Brown Residence, 1305 East Mulberry Street, Goldsboro NC.

Sources include:  Son Jon Edelbaum, UNC-Chapel Hill, Murray Whisnant, Sandy Wollman Kornstein,
grandson Ian Zimmerman and his wife Heather McCormick.