Mordecai is named for the family plantation on which it was
developed. This area was developed during the building boom
following World War I. Many of the streets are named for trees
found in the neighborhood parks. Mordecai House (circa 1785) survives
and is the oldest house in Raleigh still standing on its original
location. It anchors Mordecai Historic Park which is the centerpiece
of the neighborhood. Mordecai Historic Park showcases several
important historic buildings including St. Marks Chapel, the Bager-Iredell
Office, and a small gambrel-roofed cabin which was the birthplace
Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States.
Pilot Mill, a cotton mill, was established in the
late nineteenth century and surrounded by a village for the mill workers.
Pilot Mill buildings now house Raleigh
Charter High School. The old village area has been subdivided
and new homes are being built.
