Photo by Goodnight Raleigh

FRED CARTER WILLIAMS, FAIA
(1913-2000)

Over a 40-year span, Carter Williams' firm gave shape to more than 600 projects throughout the state, including the NC Archives Library in Raleigh, buildings at East Carolina University, the renovation of the Governor's Mansion, and Raleigh's City Hall Complex. From 1939 to 1941 he was an assistant professor at the NCSU School of Design.

The firm's office was located at 2806 Hillsborough Street, left, built in 1962 in the International Style that he designed.  He was joined at the firm by his brother Turner Williams and later by Macon Smith.  In 1954, Williams, Macon Smith, Turner Williams, and George Matsumoto designed an extension to Brooks Hall, home of the NCSU School of Design. 

Each year the AIANC awards the F. Carter Williams Gold Medal, their highest honor, to an individual in recognition of a distinguished career or extraordinary accomplishments as an architect.   

1955 - The Barrie S. and Judith R. Davis House, 506 North Wakefield Street, Zebulon.  Sold in 1977 to Herman And Phyllis Hammock.  Sold in 1980 to Rickey and Sheryl Rogers.  Sold two weeks later to Sheryl E. Davis.  Sold in 2000 to Robert J. Golder.  Sold in 2001 to Elizabeth Price and Amy Thompson.  Sold in 2007 to current owners Terry and Lavon Barrett.  Photos by Terry Barrett.

1941 - Williams designed this house for himself at 809 Gardner Avenue, Raleigh.  Sold to Joe and Mildred Elliott in 1959.  Sold to Johnny Randolph Johnson in 1975.  Sold in 1977 to current owners James Clark and Vella Clark.  Williams' partner Macon Smith lived in the basement for 18 months in the 1940's. Photos by Leilani Carter.

1950 - The Robert Mayne Albright and Frances Albright Residence, 3078 Granville Drive, Raleigh.  Albright was a student body president at UNC and candidate for North Carolina Governor in 1948.  For years he was the attorney for the AIANC for which he was granted honorary membership in the national AIA.  He sold the house in 1991 to trustee James Seay who sold it to William and Larose Spooner the same day.  Later that day, they sold it to John Edgar Weems.  Weems sold it in 1997 to Walter G. Davis, the current owner.  Drawing by Macon Smith. Photo by Leilani Carter.

1951 - The W. Carey Parker and Evelyn Parker House, 2106 Banbury, Raleigh.  Turner Williams was the primary architect and Macon Smith did the checking (see plan).  Sold in May 2006 to Stephen Kicklighter and William Madison.  Originally 2400 square feet.  Subsequent renovations by architect Perry Cox.  Winner of the 2007 Sir Walter Raleigh Preservation award.   Renovations include a gourmet kitchen, granite and travertine counters, a new rose garden and heated salt water pool, and of course more square footage.  The house is now 4310 square feet.  Bought in 2008 by Rebecca B. Bell and Jesse Lipson.   Black-bordered photos by James West.

1955 - The Elmo and Alice Williams Residence, 714 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh.  Bought in 1967 by current owner, Gilbert Slack.  Slack worked for Terry Waugh and Leif Valand before starting his own practice in 1968.  Top photo by Leilani Carter.  Other photos by George Smart.

1955 - The George Vallas Residence, 5008 Lead Mine Road, Raleigh.  The Vallas family ran National Art Interiors on Glenwood Avenue for decades. The original built in cabinets and drawers (example above) are in exceptional condition.  The Vallas' invested well, buying dozens of surrounding acres north of Crabtree Valley, an area that would become valuable in the 1970's.  Their generous gift of land established the Greek Orthodox Church next door.  According to Macon Smith, an architect who worked on this house, Alvis George did most of the design.  Still owned by the Vallas family.  Photos by George Smart.

1959 - Williams designed his own 5000 square foot house on six acres at 6612 Rest Haven Drive, Raleigh, Sold to Sam and Lynne Harris in 2000.  Sold to current owner Jill Maurer in 2005. 

1960 - The Dewey and Elma Arndt Residence, 1428 Canterbury Road, Raleigh. 
Sold in 1988 to current owners Henry and Joy Hartzog.

1962 - The John S. Rhodes Residence, 6616 Rest Haven, Raleigh.  Sold to his son, current owners John Flint Rhodes and wife Ruth in 1979.  There was a fire in 1995 in the bedroom wing.  Architect Karl Gaskins designed the subsequent restoration as well as a kitchen renovation.   For sale in 2010.

1968 - The William and Mary Oviatt Residence, 511 Lakestone Drive, Raleigh.  Addition designed by Macon Smith. Sold to Karl G. and Donna G. Hudson in 1986.
 

Other Raleigh houses (probably not Modernist) include:  Hirschberg-Cate, Dickson (1948), Kinney (1949, Green (1950), Poteat (1951), Branaman, Brafford (1952), Bolus, Hudson (1956),  Jones (1964)  No photos.  Do you have any?

Sources include:  Jill Maurer, Peter Rumsey, partner Macon Smith, Perry Cox, AIANC, Ruth Rhodes, Dick Rice, and daughter Carol Williams Bilbro, who lives in a Milton Small house.