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Historic Marker Unveiling & Ailey Young House open for tours February 27

Member for

7 years 1 month
February 17, 2026
  • The Town of Wake Forest will conclude its Black History Month Celebration on Friday, Feb. 27, with a historic marker unveiling at 1 p.m. in the Northeast Community.
  • The marker will be placed near the Ailey Young House which will be open for tours immediately following the unveiling ceremony until 4 p.m.
  • The Ailey Young House is considered the oldest remaining African American historic building in Wake Forest. It has historical significance as the dwelling of Allen Young, one of the town's most important African American citizens.

WAKE FOREST, NC – The Town of Wake Forest will conclude its Black History Month Celebration on Friday, Feb. 27, with a historic marker unveiling at 1 p.m. in the Northeast Community, Wake Forest’s historically African American neighborhood. The marker will be placed near the Ailey Young House which will be open for tours immediately following the unveiling ceremony until 4 p.m. 

Located adjacent to the Wake Forest Cemetery at 400 N. White St., the Ailey Young House is considered the oldest remaining African American historic building in Wake Forest. It has historical significance as the dwelling of Allen Young, one of the town's most important African American citizens.

Anyone interested in touring the home on February 27 should note the following:

  • Tours are free, open to the public, and do not require registration.
  • Parking is available in two lots inside the cemetery at the bottom of the main driveway.
  • Parking is not permitted along the cemetery’s main drive.
  • Visitors must walk to the house from the cemetery parking lot.
  • Additional on-street parking is available along East Spring Street.
  • Due to the small size of the house, only a few visitors at a time are allowed inside.
  • The site and house are not considered accessible for wheelchair users or persons with mobility or physical disabilities. Contact Town staff at 919-435-9516 for additional information and alternatives.

Constructed as rental housing by Wake Forest College Professor William G. Simmons, the house was one of several along a stretch known as "Simmons Row." Following Professor Simmons' death, his widow sold these houses to families and subdivided the land in the area which formed the beginning of what is now known as the Northeast Community.

To learn more about the Ailey Young House, visit https://bit.ly/WFAileyYoungHouse or email Senior Planner for Historic Preservation Michelle Michael at mmichael@wakeforestnc.gov.