By Sunday, they'll look a lot better; and some preservationists hope that, before long, they'll look just as trim, tidy and together as the other restored homes in the East Durham Historic District.

On Saturday, though, they could use a little help.

Preservation North Carolina and Preservation Durham are looking for volunteers to help clean up the two houses and their yards in preparation for a Sunday open house, showcasing these two plus 213 South Driver.

Specifically, that entails picking up trash, raking yards, tearing off aluminum siding and minor repairs.

"It's going to be fun," said Cathleen Turner, Piedmont regional director with Preservation N.C.

Preservation N.C. owns 212 South Driver and has an option on 309 North, she said.

The preservation groups plan to rehabilitate the houses for resale "at affordable prices to owner occupants," according to Preservation N.C. spokeswoman Renee Elder.

"The goal is to help strengthen and stabilize the neighborhood," Elder said.

East Durham residents, the city and preservationists have been at work for several years to uplift the area, which grew up in the late 1800s and early 1900s around several cotton mills.

East Durham was a thriving community within the larger city for decades, but once the mills began closing in the 1930s the neighborhood began a long, steady decline.

On Driver Street, in particular, fresh-painted and well-tended houses and yards that have been kept up or recently restored make striking contrasts with neighboring structures that remain run-down and boarded-up, such as:

212 S. Driver St.: circa 1900, a duplex with an overgrown lawn, sagging porch roof and what appear to be smoke stains. "Despite its outward appearance it's quite a solidly built house," said Turner.

309 N. Driver St.: circa 1925, "just an excellent intact bungalow," said Turner, but with a hole in the porch supporting wall, off-kilter porch post, broken-out gable window and furniture abandoned at the curb.

Cleanup goes on, whatever the weather, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Sunday's open house lasts from 2 to 4 p.m.

Anyone interested in helping out should contact Elder at 832-3652 or relder@presnc.org.