JOHN DONALD LATIMER, AIA (1916-1996)

Latimer graduated from Taunton High School in MA and Wentworth Institute of Technology.  He also studied Architectural Design at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned a BS in Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design.  In 1950 he relocated to North Carolina to work for Mount Hope Finishing Company and began his private architectural practice in Durham in 1953.

He was appointed by Governor Bob Scott to the Board of Architects in North Carolina and subsequently served as president.  Latimer retired to his perennial summer home in Cape Cod where and practiced architecture with his son JW LeRoy (Roy) Latimer and son-in-law Tom Lawson as the firm Latimer Lawson.  Latimer had three daughters, one of whom, Ann, also practiced architecture with him.

1952 - The Isaac M. and Trudy Taylor Residence, 618 Morgan Creek Road, Chapel Hill, the house on 28 acres where musician James Taylor grew up along with three brothers and one sister.  George Matsumoto began the project but found it difficult to work with Trudy Taylor.  In fact, after that point Matsumoto swore off home design, “not wanting to work with the wives.”  Trudy Taylor lost no time in hiring Latimer to finish.  Landscape design was by Lewis Clarke.  The lower floor contains the children’s bedrooms, the upper floor a master bedroom and living room.  The kitchen and dining are on the mezzanine level, left above.  The Taylors divorced and moved out by 1972.  The house was rented for a few years then current owners Jim and Pat Johnston bought it in 1974.  According to Pat, the steel beam construction tends to bring in the cold and condensation during the winter but otherwise the house is in excellent condition.  Color photos by George Smart.

1953 - The Roy and Geraldine Tilley House, 420 Raleigh Street, Fuquay-Varina. The Tilleys raised their children there and kids from all over the neighborhood came by.  Pictured above, left, is one young man in the late 1950's.  He came back to visit, right, in April of 2009 to stage this photo.  The house was sold to Donald and Janet Allen in 1970.  Sold to Ann and George Kemp 1973.  Sold to Charles and Ginger Cates in 1978.  Sold to Hugh and Ruby Rogers in 1984. Sold to Cornerstone Trading Company in summer 2001. Sold to Timothy and Debora McKinney in fall 2001.  Sold to current owner Robert Volpe in 2007. 

 1954 - The Perry House, 3413 Rugby Road, Durham. Several owners.  The living room features a floor-to-ceiling sandstone fireplace, cherry paneling, and two walls of windows.  Concrete block construction. Sold in 1991 to Hideko Kamino and Howard Ratech.  Sold in 1994 to current owners Jeff Chase and Nonna Skumanich.  Renovation by Frank Depasquale.  Top photo from 1954.  Bottom photos by Jeff Chase.  

1955 - The James Kenan Beck and Nina Beck Residence, 300 Monticello, Durham.  The house was renovated once, also by Latimer.  Now owned by their son, James Kenan "Kenny" Beck.  Photos by Kenny Beck.

1958 - The Duncan M. and Josephine Getsinger Residence, 613 Sugarberry,  a conventional house in Chapel Hill NC.  Charlie Woodall was the draftsman.  Sold in 1986 to current owner Geraldine Laport.  Photo by Nicole Alvarez.

1963 - The Catholic Bishop's Residence, 600 Bilyeu Street, Raleigh NC.  Designed for Bishop Waters.  Owned by the Raleigh Diocese of the Catholic Church.  Currently called the Doggett Center, a Catholic student center for NCSU.  Features a bomb shelter.

1966 - The Harold Lewis House, 1708 Woodburn Road, Durham.
Sold in 2001 to current owners David and Kathy Beratan.

1966 - The Frances L. McDonald Residence, 1515 Bellevue Avenue, Durham. 
Sold in 2008 to current owners Summer and Bobby Alston.  Charlie Woodall was the draftsman.

1967 - The John and Helen Latimer Residence at 4907 Garrett Road, Durham, designed with his son-in-law Tom Lawson.  Latimer and his wife lived here until they moved to Cape Cod MA.  The site was purchased around 1985 by the Eno River Unitarian Univeralist Fellowship (ERUUF).  They preserved the house for many years but eventually destroyed it to build a beautiful church sanctuary, bottom photo, in 2000.   The church architect was Dixon Weinstein.  Older color photos by Jan Walter, an interior designer who worked for Latimer.

1974 - Next door to his own house, Latimer designed a house for current owners
Robert and Nancy Lincoln, 5003 Garrett Road, Durham.  On several acres.  Under renovations, will be available for rental in 2010.