Greensboro Daily Photo

50th Anniversary of the Sit-In Movement

By the time you see this post, these seats will have been filled, and the International Civil Rights Center & Museum will be open. The museum has been 15 years in the making and is a realized dream of, among others,  North Carolinians Earl Jones and Skip Alston. If you haven't been following the story, the museum was built in the Woolworth building where, on February 1st, 1960, four 17-year-old NC A&T freshmen entered Woolworth and were denied service at the "whites only" lunch counter. This event sparked a series of sit-ins in throughout the southeast. The original lunch counter is one of many exhibits on site that bring back memories of racial segregation. Young Americans today cannot believe that people were denied service based on the color of their skin. 

We all need to be thankful for the determination of David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Jibreel Khazan (born Ezell Blair, Jr.), and Joseph McNeil. As America becomes increasingly diverse in the 21st century, we need to respect the inherent worth and dignity of each other. The opening of this museum is a step in the right direction. This photo was taken on the stage where McCain is scheduled to speak at the event today. Khazan and McNeil will not speak but will be on stage. Mr Richmond died twenty years ago. If you want to read more, we suggest Ed Cone's blog as well as this article from the New York Times.

 

International Civil Rights Museum Opening in Forty-Eight Hours

Two more days and the International Civil Rights Center & Museum will open. Greensboro, North Carolina is bursting with pride at the thought of this museum becoming a reality. We have waited for it to open for a long time. As stated on their website, "the International Civil Rights Center & Museum is an archival center, collecting museum and teaching facility devoted to the international struggle for civil and human rights. The museum celebrates the nonviolent protests of the 1960 Greensboro sit-ins that served as a catalyst in the civil rights movement."

If you ever come to Greensboro, this is a must-see museum. We're sharing this photo with Weekend Reflections in the hopes of bringing more people into our town and this new resource. Festivities centered around the grand opening are many. From Girl Scouts to local political leaders the ribbon cutting at 8am will be well attended.

 

International Civil Rights Center & Museum

Greensboro is realizing a dream. The opening of the International Civil Rights Center & Museum is a mere three weeks away. For over a decade, we've been walking past the former Woolworth Five and Dime at 301 North Elm Street lamenting the fact that this historic place looked like all the other abandoned, boarded up, urban buildings. Not for long. When we walked by today, cameramen were inside taping a preview for the public. Hopefully, the planners have set a realistic goal as the space is renovated but empty. February 1, 2010 is the 50th anniversary of the Sit-Ins that "(l)aunched the national drive for integrated lunch counters (History marker J79)."  

Follow the above link and watch the February One Trailer, a 1 minute 43 second trailer of the February 1 documentary. To date, the fanfare seems to have remained rather local. Hopefully, the center & museum will receive the international recognition that it deserves. James Weldon Johnson had it right, "Lift every voice and sing, 'Til earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty.......

 

Foucault Pendulum in Greensboro

A Foucault pendulum is used to demonstrate the rotation of the Earth. In the above photo, we see the Foucault pendulum at the Natural Science Center in Greensboro. The Paris Observatory displayed the first one publicly in 1851. Perhaps the most famous Foucault pendulum is the one in the Pantheon in Paris, named after the French physicist who conceived the experiment. Wikipedia has a complete list of Foucault pendulums in the world categorized by country and by state for the USA. From this list, we learned that Greensboro actually has two: one at the Natural Science Center and one at NCA&T University. There are four total in North Carolina, one in nearby Winston-Salem and another in Fayetteville. According to the Wikipedia list, 39/50 US states boast at least one pendulum. 

This is our contribution to Monochrome Weekly. The monochrome theme recently celebrated its first anniversary. 

Chair Park Exhibit at High Point Museum

At the High Point Museum, just down the road from Greensboro, current exhibits feature the history of the local furniture industry-- complete with a very informative timeline. Off in one room is a chair park. Featured above are two of the chairs on display. Following, is information from the exhibit's plaque:

" Take a Seat! Chairs were the main product of High Point's early furniture factories. They continue to be a topic of lively conversation with today's designers, who have found many ways to reformat the most common piece of furniture in our homes. Take a seat, watch the videos, and read about these chairs on the label attached to each of them. Learn about their designers, compare their designs, and think about the chairs you encounter every day."

The chair on the right is from the Uwharrie Chair Company. Unfortunately, we didn't get the information about the yellow chair on the left. If you are local, we hope you get by the museum at 1859 Lexington Avenue, High Point,  to enjoy all it has to offer. Don't forget, admission is free! If you need a new chair, you will already be in High Point and have plenty to choose from!

Tuesdays, many bloggers participate in theThat's My World meme and in this part of North Carolina, the furniture industry truly is OUR WORLD! The High Point Furniture Market has been a major event for us since the early 1900's. Today, twice a year, furniture retailers from all over the world come to the showrooms in High Point to purchase furniture, wholesale. The website from the furniture market AND the High Point Museum are great places to learn about this facet of our community.

Blue Sky over Blandwood Mansion

We started the week with a silhouetted interior photo of Blandwood Mansion and are closing the work week with a view of the façade of this historic Italianate villa. Architect Alexander Jackson Davis designed the prototype for Governor Morehead in 1844 and it was completed two years later, a year after he left office. You may recall our June 4th post of the house on Isabel Street in Greensboro with a similar façade.

If you have not visited Blandwood, please put it on your "to do" list. If you are not local, please follow the above link and visit it virtually. For those of you who are history buffs, do you know how many governors came before Gov. Morehehead and his political affiliation?  (He was the twenty-ninth governor and was a Whig). For those of you who are visiting through the Sky Watch Friday group, we hope you like the way the blue sky and white clouds frame Greensboro's oldest example of Italianate architecture!

Blandwood Mansion

The Monochrome Weekly Theme picture was taken through a side window, late one afternoon, at Blandwood Mansion on 447 West Washington Street in downtown Greensboro. It was the time of day when color begins to drain from objects due to the low light. Black and white emphasizes the silhouette of personal objects such as the punch bowl and small tables.

Blandwood, former home of Governor John Motley Morehead, was completed in 1846. It is billed as America's oldest Italianate villa. Blandwood is open Tuesday- Sunday. Additionally, throughout the year, several events take place on the lawn and in the carriage house. The day we were on location photographing, the director/curator Ashley Crayton Poteat was leaving work for the day. In our brief conversation, the energetic and dynamic Poteat proudly informed us that she was beginning her sixth year as director. While August will be a rather quiet month at Blandwood, September is full of events from bluegrass music the last three Sundays of the month, a National Preservation Institute Workshop, and a Museum Day sponsored by Smithsonian Magazine. Make it a point to stop by and take advantage of this local treasure. As always, guided tours of the interior, the museum shop, the carriage house, and gardens-- featuring native trees and plants-- are available to the public through the summer and into the school year.

Check back on Greensboro Daily this upcoming Friday as we'll showcase the exterior, Italianate architecture of Blandwood Mansion in front of a fabulous Sky Watch Friday Carolina blue sky!

The High Point Museum

The High Point Museum, just a few miles down the road from Greensboro, is one of Guilford County's little treasures. The museum houses an array of permanent and temporary exhibits, from an interactive display about the life of jazz musician John Coltrane, to an historical timeline of the High Point end of Guilford County; to a chair exhibit and display about the making of furniture. On property is an historical park with two houses, one from 1786 and another in 1801, and costumed interpreters providing living history demonstrations and guided tours of the grounds.

In the photo above, shared with the Monochrome Weekly crowd, we see one of the interpreters quilting. She is living her dream at work, home, and at school. She is studying history in college and works at the museum interpreting the past. If you have the time and interest, she and her mom, also an interpreter at the museum, will fill you with information about colonial times and everything authentic to the area. They also have great expertise in genealogy, know how to sew authentic period costumes, and, in their spare time, the participate in historical reenactments. Also on property is a blacksmith shop and, on certain days, a blacksmith providing demonstrations.

This museum and the people working there are invaluable assets to Guilford County. Perhaps best of all, the entrance is free. Check the schedule before going to know what will be going on when you plan to visit.

Tape Art: Drawn Together- Organized by Weatherspoon Art Museum

You've been taped!!!! In this photo, the green decoration on the side of Zeto Wine & Cheese Shop is tape. This community art project was organized by the Weatherspoon Art Museum of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. For eight days, a different place around town will receive a tape art mural. A new twist this year was keeping the location of the "daily tape" a surprise with clues including live images streamed from artist Michael Townsend. Temporary art does give the eye something new to enjoy!

               

Elsewhere Artist Collaborative (City Daily Photo Theme Day: Yellow!!!)

Elsewhere Artist Collaborative, located at 606 and 608 South Elm St. (Greensboro, NC, USA), is the site of today's GDP post, celebrating the City Daily Photo April 2009 theme-- YELLOW. Does this photo yell YELLOW, or what? If you are interested, here is the history behind Elsewhere. 

Joe and Sylvia Gray owned the South Elm Street building and maintained a thrift store inside. The inventory was the result of nearly 60 years of collecting. After Joe died and Sylvia got up in years, she had a sign posted on the door of her thrift shop saying something along the lines of, "call before you come. I may open up at 12:00 noon, and then again, I may not." We always got a chuckle out of her cavalier attitude towards committing to a fixed schedule. By the time of her death in 1997, Sylvia's store was stacked floor to ceiling with over 1,000,000 second-hand treasures. Thrift shoppers looked longingly through the windows at the items they only dreamed of purchasing. Developers looked at the building wondering how they could get her to clear it out. Along came George Scheer.

In 2003, Sylvia's grandson, George Scheer, opened a "museum" and artist collaborative in the location. Since the opening of Elsewhere, none of the million pieces has been for sale. NOTHING is for sale. The items serve as artifacts of a life of collecting and a place for artists to creatively assemble the items into visual feasts. Elsewhere is referred to as a "playhouse for artists." It has quickly developed a following and is gaining international attention, receiving grants, and evolving into a legitimate artists' venue worthy of grants and special events. The above picture was taken in one of the far back corners of the space. Who(m) do you think the mannequins resemble? Are you starting to appreciate the spirit of the collaborative?

Go here to read more about Elsewhere.

Since this is the first day of the month, it is theme day for the city daily photo community. This month's theme is "yellow." Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

               

Greensboro Historical Museum: Up on the Rooftop

The Greensboro Historical Museum is undergoing a multimillion dollar renovation, outside as well as inside. Here we see two roofers finishing their working day on the museum's rooftop. We were impressed at how hard the men were working and how safety conscious they seemed to be. Renovations will take over a year, but will be well worth the wait! The museum remains open to the public and, as always, is FREE!

While the sky wasn't actually white on the day this photo was taken, it appears that way in this black and white photo.   Thank you for stopping by our website on your Skywatch Friday tour!

               

The Gate City

The Gate City is a nickname given to our town after Governor John Motley Morehead negotiated the moving of a train line here in the mid-1800's. With 60 trains running daily, Governor Morehead's hometown quickly became known as "The Gate City." Greensboro is also known as the Triad (Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem); not to be confused with the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) located to the east along I-40. The sign looks like it is of the same vintage as the Wizzard of Oz signs! This photo was taken at the historical museum the day before parts of it were scheduled for renovations. The already wonderful museum will be tremendously improved over the course of a year-- inside and outside.

               

First Presbyterian Cemetery behind the Greensboro Historical Museum

The cemetery of the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro is located on the grounds of the Greensboro Historical Museum. Known as the Old Presbyterian Graveyard, this cemetery is a historian's delight. Arborists will find the cemetery of interest given the wide variety of trees planted here in recent years. Burials in the cemetery range from 1831- 1926. Among the Greensborians buried in this cemetery are Governor John Motley Morehead, (short story writer) O.Henry's parents, and veterans of the Revolutionary, 1812, and Civil Wars.

Many books are available through Amazon that reference First Presbyterian and its original graveyard. Most do not have images of their book covers available. If you would like to see a list of these books and check their availability, click here.

               

Greensboro Historical Museum

If you are looking for something to do this weekend and have not been to the Greensboro Historical Museum, please make an effort to visit. The museum, located downtown at 130 Summit Avenue, documents key aspects of Greensboro's history. The exhibits are very engaging as you walk through rooms that use artifacts to replicate places and events of previous decades and centuries: a Civil War exhibit, an authentic telephone switchboard, a vintage moving picture, a classroom, a drugstore, a display from the sit-ins, Seagrove pottery, and much more. You will leave the property knowing more about O. Henry, Dolley Madison, Governor John Motley Morehead, and other famous locals. Part of the 17,000 square foot museum is the original First Presbyterian Church complete with a stunning stained glass window. Another great feature of the museum is that it is FREE!  

If you have been to the Historical Museum, how about leaving a comment below telling others what you enjoyed most about your visit. 

               

International Civil Rights Museum

Construction on the International Civil Rights Museum should be finished by February 1, 2010, the 50th anniversary of the sit-in movement. Above, we see a picture of the architect's vision for the museum which will be located at the F.W. Woolworth at 132 South Elm Street.  With the funding resolved, the museum's construction should move forward quickly. We encourage you to stop downtown and document the progress. Students, sounds like a great senior project! To enter the virtual doors of the museum and learn more, click here. Today's photo was taken from the very position of the man in the front left corner of the plans, looking into the future museum.

            

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park on a Gray Winter Day

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park may be  small in acreage (125 acres), but it is monumental and dynamic as an historical venue. The visitor's museum is a great place to start to get an orientation and to learn more about the battle, which took place on Thursday, March 15, 1781.  Additionally, reading the tombstones and the plaques on the monuments, scattered throughout the park, is informative. This year, on the weekend of March 14th-15th, the park will hold the 228th anniversary commemoration.

The men in the photo above are taking a self-guided tour. The window on the right reveals the gray landscape and leafless trees found at this time of year. If you do not live in Greensboro, you may want to learn about the venue by reading the website for the park. 

            

Greensboro Children's Museum

Looking for something great to do today? Consider heading over to the Greensboro Children's Museum.   This is a busy weekend for the museum.On Saturday, The Culture of Color program kicks off at 2pm. Artist Andrew Paulk, Sr. will be there to airbrush art. Congressman Howard Coble will be there on Sunday (Jan. 25, 2008) to have his portrait painted between 2-4 pm. These activities sound fun! The exhibits and activities are always engaging and a photographer's dream.