A recent social media post about the imminent demolition of several buildings on a property in Hillsborough has collectively ruffled a few feathers, given insight of how local government works; shed light on some of the town’s history; and provided greater detail of the plans for the site.
The property, at one time known as the Whitfield-Beard Farm, was owned by Comodore Perry Whitfield from 1868 to 1938, and later owned by Dr. Joseph W. Beard and his wife, Dorothy. Beard was a prominent Duke Medicine researcher who worked from 1937 to 1973 as a professor of surgery and virology. He and his wife were known for pioneering work on vaccines and cancer research. After their deaths, the Beards left their farm property to Duke University. For many years it was used by Duke Hospice programs. The house on the property later was used as the Duke Hospice Unicorn Bereavement Center.
For Hillsborough resident Teresa Latham Keever, learning of the Beard Farm came by way of a chance encounter with the property…