Greensboro Daily Photo

Revolution Cotton Mills

We've featured Revolution Cotton Mills previously; however, we love this view of the red tower at the end of the street. Revolution Cottin Mills were built in 1899 and were part of a 2 million square foot complex in northeastern Greensboro and harken back to the day when Greensboro was a national center of the textile industry. If you ever get a chance to walk around the structure, you will be amazed at the strength and durability of the construction. For the safety of the workers and for insurance purposes, the mills needed to be built according to "slow-burning" specifications: Watertight floors, spaces separated by brick firewalls, and extra sturdy support timbers (read more here).

The facility is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and with the help of Historic Preservation tax credits, it continues to be renovated and repurposed. We owe you a look of the inside of the facility. We owe OURSELVES a look on the inside and we'll put it on our to do list. In the meantime, if you are looking for office, event, or meeting space, this is a great place to start! This brick facility is solid as a rock, and, with proper care, should last at least another century!

Old Guilford County Barn

Here we see a barn in Northwest Guilford County on a cold, colorless winter day. At one time, this wooden building was a full-service barn on a thriving farm. Now, it looks like most structures in the holding pattern of "tear down" status; the land is more valuable than the buildings on it. Before you know it, this acerage will be a new neighborhood, named by a naming consultant for what used to be on the property (Falling Barn Trace, Weather Vane Estates, Grassy Meadow Farms, Gatewood Estates etc.). Regardless, the barn exudes a haunting, poetic aura and the scene looks like something Andrew Wyeth would paint-- especially if someone were walking towards the horizon..............

Happy Monday folks. This week starts the first of about eight weeks in a row without a holiday or teacher work day. However, it is starting to seem like old-man winter has a weather event in his back pocket. If it snows, we're heading back to this barn to get some snow photos. 

Pet Dairy Building on Summit Avenue

Here we see the old Pet Dairy Building on Summit Avenue near the overpass down to Morrow Blvd. In an interview with John Schlosser, John Kincaid, Sr. remembers the 1930's when there was not only a plant, but also a retail dairy bar here. Kincaid and his (male) friends walked there for 10-cent milk shakes. Another option to go for a dairy treat here would be to come to the plant by taking electric street cars from nearby textile mill villages (reference). The plant was still thriving in the 1960's and we found this archived legal document regarding their efforts to furnish dairy products to a NC veterans' hospital in 1963. More recently, Kavanagh Homes purchased the building and 8-acre site in 2006, with plans to develop it for residential units (more here). We're not sure about the current plan for the building and site; however, it would be nice if the façade of the historic building remained. The architecture and signage on the building are worthy preservation. Additionally, Pet Dairy is a link to our city's textile-mill-village life.

Post a comment if you know anything else or have memories of this building east of downtown in a little area that reminds us that Greensboro's terrain is not completely flat. (By the way, we hope we're linking and referencing in a way that shows integrity. We love the ease of accessing information through the internet).

The Softer Side of UNCG

We close out the week with this photo of UNCG, near the railroad tracks that parallel Lee Street and and Oakland Avenue. The "softer side" in the title is reference to yesterday's photo of Sears. This is the softer side of campus because it is one little nook that has remained relatively unchanged over the last half century. UNCG has undergone a period of considerable growth and construction-- from new dorms to the New School of Education, Music Building, Moore Humanities and Research Building, and on and on (map here). If you haven't been on campus in a while, you should start your visit at one of the old landmarks, like the Foust Building or the Steam Plant & Sink Building (above) or you just might not recognize the place. Even Spring Garden Street has changed.

Enjoy your Friday the 13th and stop by Skywatch Friday to see the blue skies above your favorite cities around the world. In the meantime, we're busy planning our our Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activities for Monday. For sure, we will be at the parade (more here). As for the UNCG Campus, Monday's holiday will be a HUGE day for service learning projects in honor of Dr. King.

UNCG's Mighty Steam Plant Building

From the back yard of Beef Burger on West Lee Street, one can get a great view of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro's  Mighty Steam Plant (constructed in 1924). From the steam plant, heat lines/pipes travel all across campus. Through manholes and steam tunnels, the steam shop maintains all steam and condensate lines once they leave the steam plant. The steam shop also maintain all steam equipment for hot water and building heat (reference). Steam travels to about 62 buildings on campus where it is used for heating, humidification, and to heat water (reference).  There is a whole world underground providing energy for UNCG. 

We wish more were written about this intriguing building. For example, we would love to know the height of the stack and how it has withstood high winds for 88 years. We'd love to know if the tiles on the main building are from Greensboro's own Pomona tile factory. What is the carbon footprint of the facility? What UNCG building uses the most steam? A retired faculty member remembers taking her laundry there to be cleaned in the 1960's and recalls that linens for the dorms and dining services were laundered there. Is that still done?

Do you have any stories about the building? It seems to us that it would be a great setting for a novel. And, oh, how different it would be to tell someone to meet you in the stacks of the library vs. meeting you in the stack of the steam plant building!

 

Tri-City Fish Market

For years, Tri-City Fish Market and the painting of the siren/mermaid adorned Lee Street near Elm Street downtown-- a central section of town bringing together patrons from east and west Greensboro. It was conveniently located with parking to the side. Tri-City was the main place in town for fresh fish, seafood and oysters.  It predated the big box stores like Wal-Mart and Costco and made fresh seafood available when grocery stores didn't have the large, iced seafood sections. A few years ago, Tri-City Fish Market relocated to Florida Street just south of the Warnersville community. As seen in the above photo, the siren-mermaid resumed her spot on the right-hand side of the building.  While you may be able to get your seafood elsewhere, for sure, you can't get Tri-City's freshness, expertise, and personal service. 

One time Mrs. GDP developed an English course for immigrants who worked at a similar fish market in another city. After several days of on-site observation, we were teaching new employees to ask customers, "Do you want the heads left on the fish?" and to understand when the customers requested in English, "fillet the fish, remove the heads but save them for me." Then, the person working at the counter would shout back to the person cutting the fish, "Fillet, no heads, save all."  On a busy afternoon, you can hear similar lingo at Tri-City. Stop by, learn to speak 'fish-market-ese' and leave with the makings of a savory meal. If you are like us and you've made one of the 'eat-healthier' pacts for New Year's, visit Tri-City sooner, rather than later.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

"Over the river and through the wood to grandfather's house we go... we would not stop for doll or top for this is Thanksgiving Day...."  No poem evokes the memory of Thanksgiving more than Lydia Maria Child's 1844 poem about the holiday. If you have time, read it with your family (here). So many of us have fond memories of visiting our grandparents or, perhaps, being the grandparent making those memories of holiday fellowship with family. Coming together, breaking bread, and celebrating the generations is at the core of who we are as North Carolinians.

The house above peeks out beyond a make-shift dirt parking lot, waiting to be filled with the vehicles full of travelers arriving for a Thanksgiving feast. Beyond the old oak tree, you see  Early Farms  on Bethel Church Road in Gibsonville. The Earlys are fifth generation farmers; so we imagine they'll be serving up some savory, Guilford-County-grown vegetables. Who knows, living in a rural part of the county, they may have procured a wild turkey.

Andreas Gursky Inspired Photo

On Tuesday, November 8, 2011, German photographer, Andreas Gursky, sold a photograph for 4.3 million dollars at Christie's in NYC. His photograph is sure to become THE iconic photo of the Rhine River... and beyond. Inspired by Gursky's fame and fortune, we wanted to take an iconic photo of North Carolina. The quest took us to Early Farms in eastern Guilford County. They are a certified roadside farm market. Roadside farm markets are to North Carolina as the Rhine River is to Germany-- well if not exactly, at least headed in that direction!

Somehow we don't think our photo will garner the fame and fortune as the Gursky; however, we sure had fun roaming around Guilford County looking for inspiration. We tried to interpret the Gursky photo-- layers of green, gray-blue, and brown. We just weren't as Rothko-esque.  Once we googled Gursky's images, we had a greater appreciation for his 4-million-dollar photograph. OK, you've waited long enough. See Gursky's photo here. 

And, during the 2012 growing season, don't forget to stop by Early Farms for some farm fresh produce. Let them know, not only do their gherkins make some mighty fine pickles but their fields would make a mighty fine Gursky!

Ai Church: Preservation in Process

Ai Church, at the corner of Alcorn Road and Highway 68 in Oak Ridge, appears to be on the road to full restoration. Spring 2009, when this church was featured on Greensboro Daily Photo (see here), there was little indication that someone was making an effort to save it. Today, Preservation Oak Ridge is renovating the 1,400 foot structure that was built in the 1800's. Through fundraisers and donations from the local community, the church will be transformed into the gateway to Oak Ridge. Local lore indicates that the cemetery, on the eastern side of the property, came into being at the time of the Revolutionary War.

Estimates indicate that the cost of renovating this church and adding outdoor facilities, including a picnic area and restrooms, will cost at least 200,000. The price tag is hefty for this community, in the northwest quadrant of Guilford County. However, given its proximity to the Old Mill of Guilford, the combined effect of two historic properties will make one's entrance into Oak Ridge from the south truly grand.

Thank you for visiting us on Sacred Sunday when we feature something of a spiritual nature from one of the many religions of Greensboro and the surrounding area. Stop back tomorrow and see a pre-Civil War grave located in the Ai Cemetery. 

Scott's Pumpkin Patch

Wrapping up our mini-tour of Burlington Road, just east of Greensboro, was a trip to Scott's Pumpkin Patch. In North Carolina, pumpkin patches are everywhere this time of year and no week-before-Halloween would be complete without our featuring a local place selling pumpkins. Here is one from 2010; here for 2009. Children delight in ambling through the pumpkins arranged by size and price. 

This old barn is representative of the outbuildings found throughout rural North Carolina. Ten years into the 21st century, these structures are disappearing before our eyes. As a matter of fact, the land in the present photo is for sale. Wonder if Scott's Pumpkin Patch will still be here next year? Places like Scott's make great memories for children and help us appreciate our old-time ways.

If you are local and looking for something to do this weekend, click here for a pumpkin patch picking guide for North Carolina. Also, keep in mind it is the last weekend for Johnson's impressionist sculptures to be in Graham. Finally, this is our contribution to Skywatch Friday. Please take time to look up and admire the sky above.

Tobacco Harvesting in Guilford County

The above photo shows a bittersweet industry for North Carolina: Tobacco. The state has a love/hate relationship with the product. We love the revenue from crop to finished product; we hate the physical consequences of first- and second-hand smoke.* In the USA, North Carolina is number one in tobacco production with a 2010 farm income of $582 million dollars and 166,000 acres dedicated to the crop. Tobacco's economic impact to our state is over $7 billion dollars (reference). That's a lot of revenue impacting and sustaining our population, any way you look at it. Smoking rates are slightly lower in North Carolina than the national average. Nationally 19.5% of high school students and 20.6% of adults smoke; in North Carolina, the numbers are 16.7% and 19.8%, respectively. Still 20.2 million cigarettes are bought or smoked by kids in North Carolina each year and 416,000 are exposed to second-hand smoke (references here).

The acreage in this photo is on Burlington Road, not too far from the praying hands we featured on Sunday. These workers harvested tobacco from early morning to early evening on Saturday.  It was a good day for it. Before the leaves are dried, the stems are sticky and wet. From the smell, you would never suspect the crop is tobacco. The leaves smell tart and pungent, almost like collards. As quickly as land is being developed for commercial use in Guilford County, if your want to see these old-time, rural scenes, you'd better plan your day trips sooner, rather than later.

 *Please follow the links in this sentence. You will enjoy the photos.

Praying Hands

If you leave Burlington headed west, Alamance Memorial Park is the gateway to Guilford County. If you are headed east, it is the first thing you see when you leave. This 80-acre landmark cemetery was founded in 1948 and has been steadily increasing in population ever since. Located on Highway 70, or Burlington Road, the memorial cemetery is about 18 miles from downtown Greensboro. When we drive the back way to Burlington, these larger-than-life praying hands serve as quite a memorable landmark. We have always wanted to stop and see them up close and were able to do so last week. They are as bright and eye catching up close as they are from the road.

The praying hands are a 3-dimensional replica of pen and ink drawing by German artist and theorist Albrecht Dürer, made at the beginning of the 16th century. Duplicating Dürer's drawing, in two- as well as three-dimensions, is still popular almost five hundred years later. We are lucky to have this nice piece so close. We hope you enjoy today's Sacred Sunday post.

Hearty Orange Tree in the Arboretum at Lindley Park

After all the research we did for yesterday's post on John Van Lindley, we're not quite ready to drop the topic. By chance, on Sunday, we were sitting on a bench at the Arboretum in Lindley Park listening to Scotty Walker's band. Looking up, we noticed these spikey/thorny branches above us. Intrigued that some of the branches had leaves and others did not, we leaned over to see what kind of tree we were near. According to the sign, this is a hearty orange tree. How fitting that an orange tree is growing on land that formerly belonged to John Van Lindley who was an expert with fruit trees. The branch of botany that studies and cultivates fruit trees is pomology. Lindley was an expert pomologist. 

Down the road from Lindley Park is the Pomona Park neighborhood of Greensboro where Lindley had Pomona Nurseries and where his business, The Pomona Terra Cotta Works was located. In the same neighborhood, at the end of the 19th century, the Pomona Cotton Mill opened. In 1905, Pomona Baptist Church was built and soon thereafter, the nearby Pomona Cemetery opened.  Since Pomona is the ancient Roman goddess of fruitful abundance, we're thinking Lindley had his hand in getting all of these places named "Pomona."

Today, Pomona Drive has no houses and its surrounding area is gray.... full of businesses and industry. (See here for a photo).  We are especially thankful that Mr. Lindley left so much green space for us to enjoy today. We are thankful that organizations like Greensboro Beautiful and our master gardeners work so hard at planting and keeping things green. For a very long time, we hope to enjoy tranquil vantage points like the one in the photo. We suspect Lindley would be pleased upon seeing this orange tree thriving in a place for all to enjoy.

H is for Holliday, Keith Holliday

Keith Holliday, President and CEO of the Carolina Theatre of Greensboro Inc. since 2008, works tirelessly to preserve this icon of the Golden Era of entertainment and film. He helps keep it booked with diverse events that attract people from all walks of life. Formerly, Mr. Holliday was in the banking industry for twenty years and mayor of Greensboro for eight. He also served  as a council-person at-large. Through all of these incarnations, this lifelong resident (and product of Greensboro's public schools) has been a community leader, good citizen, and gracious person.

On the day that we were at the Carolina Theatre for this photo shoot, Mr. Holliday kept insisting that he be photographed in a way that highlighted the theatre's beauty. We decided to use a black and white photo because it shows details of the gilded, opulent decor.  When constructed in 1927, the glorious theatre was meant to transport Depression Era audiences with entertainment, including Vaudeville acts, and live music at an affordable price.  Mr. Holliday's love for the Carolina Theatre and for Greensboro is readily apparent within the first few minutes of talking to him, regardless of where he is standing!  Thank you Mr. Holliday for all you do for Greensboro.

Today is ABC Wednesday and "H" is for Holliday. See ABC Wednesday photos from around the world here and Greensboro's ABC series here.

Giacomo's Italian Market

Giacomo's Italian Market is as close as you can get to Little Italy right here in Greensboro. Homemade sausage, pepperoni, seafood salad, insalata caprese, homemade pasta, and so much more. They make and serve up food the old-fashioned way: handmade and fresh; friendly and efficient. Whether you are looking for something for your Labor Day picnic or want to feel like you are in New York without leaving town, Giacomo's is a great place to visit. This photo was taken at the 2109 New Garden Road location, near Brassfield. There is also a High Point Road location as well as the option to order by mail. It seems like just yesterday we discovered their great sandwiches and pasta. Hard to believe they've been in Greensboro for about a decade.

We've been saving this photo for a Saturday Weekend Reflection shot. Have a great weekend everyone. A special thank you to our Facebook fans who doubled our pageviews on the day we posted the blue house on Alamance Church Road this week. Friend us on Facebook for an easy way for your friends and family to keep up with our posts.

Produce Stand

It is late summer and makeshift produce stands around Greensboro are becoming less frequent. However, this one at the Citgo/Quik Mart on Battleground Avenue near Target is still quite busy. And, the melons and heirloom tomatoes look tasty. About 4:15 yesterday afternoon, a strong thundershower hit Greensboro. We don't know if the vendors at this produce stand had to batten down the hatches; however, all seemed in good order when we drove by just after the storm. The couple in the middle sat down, likely to weather the storm together. To see two people sit a minute and truly enjoy each other's company was a good, grand finale to a busy work day.

If you like these makeshift, roadside produce stands,  here is a link to a directory of pick-your-own farms, roadside farm markets, and farmers markets throughout North Carolina. Eat Wild is another great resource. The first thing we thought about this photo was that it was a "Norman Rockwell moment." As it turns out, that is the name of a business, licensed by the Norman Rockwell Estate, to turn your portraits into "Norman Rockwell Moments." 

Mortar & Pestle at Fordham Drug Store

Next time you are at 514 South Elm Street, at the building that housed Fordham's Drug Store from 1898-2002, look up to the sky and see this apothecary mortar and pestle. Pharmacists used them to prepare prescriptions or for grinding pills. Trituration is the process of crushing, grinding, and mixing solid substances-- the task of the above bowl-like mortar and heavy pestle. When we started investigating the origin and meaning of the Rx symbol, we found many answers (read here). One thought is that it comes from the latin word "recipere" meaning "Take, thou."

In the early years of Fordham's, the Drug Store was on the street level and the doctors were upstairs, just below this decorative feature on the roof. Fordham's was a dynamic place with a soda fountain that catered to children. They also had liquor for sale, as long as the ABC man wasn't around (reference). For a while, the short story writer O. Henry worked at Fordham's. We're sharing this bright blue sky with Skywatch Friday.

Tea Time at the O. Henry Hotel

The O. Henry Hotel, located at 624 Green Valley Road, makes an effort to evoke an era when hotels were much more community centered.  Tea time at the O. Henry Hotel is summer afternoon perfect for locals and visitors alike! Beyond this revolving door is a room full of old-world charm... a social lobby with warm paneled walls, oil paintings, upholstered chairs, cordial attentive staff, and china fit for royalty. Each afternoon from 2-5pm, people stop in for tea and a bite to eat. Is tea at the O. Henry considered "high" or "low" tea? The distinction between high and low tea usually is determined by whether the event is served around "low" coffee tables or "high" dinner tables. Also, the former tends to be served in the 5-7 pm time slot and the latter from 2-5 pm. In the USA, it is not uncommon to center the distinction around level of social formality (reference). 

At the O.Henry, one can enjoy something as simple at tea and scones with clotted cream or as filling as truffled egg salad on brioche and a ham and brie croissant with fig preserves. From $7- $22, there is a price point for most budgets. If you are looking for something to buy the friend who has EVERYTHING, consider the gift of afternoon tea.  And remember, tea, high or low, tastes better with a big splash of friendship.

 

Brightwood Inn Family Style Restaurant

Brightwood Inn Family Style Restaurant is located at 6501 Burlington Road, east of Greensboro. While still a rural restaurant and lounge, it is an oasis of the past, the way Burlington Road used to be. New construction is all around. There is the Brightwood Farm Subdivision, the Brightwood Eye Center, Brightwood Self Storage, Brightwood Crossing Apartments; however, Brightwood Restaurant with its awnings and neon signs has been lighting up Whitsett since before many of the new residents were born.

This mom and pop establishment is where Elvis Presley once dined. The original booth is still in use. Stop in to this time-warp establishment and order up a plate of nostalgia with your sizzling steak and fries. (Read the one review we were able to find here). And don't get the wrong impression about the little dose of southern humor, a sign on the "couples only" side that reads, "no entrance, no shirt, if locked, knock hard." In searching the internet, it seems that this fabulous place needs a little more publicity. Then again, maybe the owners are happy just the way things are now. We'll have to head back out and ask.

This past week, we've posted Bestway, Bellemeade, and now Brightwood and Burlington Road. What "B's" will be left for tomorrow on ABC Wednesday when "B" is the letter of the day? Please Be Back to find out!

What Does It Mean to Be Southern?

Need a summer conversation starter? Consider.... What does it mean to be southern? Some people joke that it means you are from a place in the US where kudzu grows; where "ya'll" and "might could" are used; where "sweet tea" is about half syrup and is the drink of choice (if not always, at least)  with fried chicken and BBQ. To some, the south is the Bible Belt. ..... the land of religious television and Baptists. To others, the south is a place where you pledge allegiance to a college sports team before you can walk. The south is so much more than these stereotypes.

Above, we see a cut glass pitcher of ice water with mint and lemon. This pitcher of infused water is a gesture, indicating the importance of friendship and making your guests feel special. Fresh mint and lemon add a crisp flavor to the water and imply extra effort. The pitcher is probably an heirloom--  in your family for a few generations. Southern means taking time to sit and enjoy fellowship with colleagues, friends and love ones. Southern means caring and paying attention to details and giving your guests your best-- materially, socially, and spiritually. Southern means taking time to smell the roses in concert with others. To you, what does it mean to be southern? To ponder the question, why don't you make some icy lemon-mint infused, water to sip? Let us know if you get it figured out!

 

X is for Ten Miles

Today is ABC Wednesday and, as you may know, for this series, we've been featuring streets. Well, what to do? There is not even one street in Greensboro that begins with the letter "X." Many of you were kind enough to suggest that we feature a major crossroad of two Greensboro streets. That was our intent, when, serendipitously, we stumbled upon this street-related  X at the Greensboro Historical Museum. In the above photo, you see a stone marker with an X carved in it. The brass plaque below the X reads, "Last stagecoach marker in Guilford County. Formerly located at Sedalia, the "X" indicated that Greensboro was 10 miles away. Such markers were common on the main roads prior to 1860."

So, for ABC Wednesday, X, Roman numeral 10, marks the spot. This stagecoach marker and X in the road was located very near this diner in the eastern end of the county, 80 miles west of yesterday's post.

View our previous, ABC Wednesday ( A-W) posts here. Two more weeks until we think of a new theme for Round 9 of ABC Wednesday.

Butter Steak Sandwich & Green Drink

Those of you old enough to remember the Boar & Castle Drive-In Restaurant on West Market Street (at Walker Avenue) will know all about butter steak sandwiches, green drink and Boar & Castle sauce. In the above photo, these items have just been served up at Fincastle's DIner (215 South Elm Street) in downtown Greensboro. Fincastle's owners, nostalgic for a taste of the old Boar & Castle as well as filled with great ideas of their own, have been preparing meals like the one above since opening downtown in 2005. The sandwich was great and just the way it would have been served in the 1960's: lots of special sauce, loaded with melted butter, a bun that was soft on the outside and crispy on the inside and, last but not least, a generous chunk of steak. The drink, with strong undertones of pineapple, likely would have been smaller in portion but equally sweet and GREEN!

We wanted to feature this iconic Greensboro meal today because  both The Fresh Market stores in Greensboro are having a food event today where you can purchase Boar & Castle sauce. This Greensboro-invented sauce is the tangy condiment that gives butter steak sandwiches their unique flavor. Had we been true to history, we would have ordered fries or onion rings to dip in the sauce! If you want to learn more about Boar & Castle sauce, read this Jeri Rowe article. Between his article and all of the follow-up comments, you'll begin to understand why Grimsley and Curry High students flocked to the Boar & Castle Drive-In Restaurant for lunch and would return at night to hang out with friends.  

Arrested Development

Just down the road from the Palmer Institute and the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, on Wendover East heading towards Burlington, development butts heads with rural living. On this property is a home, The family on this property lives behind the long-ago diner in Sedalia that we featured here. With the Dollar Store peeking in the background, likely, it will not be long before retail and new-construction engulf this property. However, for now, it fits the definition of arrested development. Development has been stopped. The spot of greenery looks so cool and cozy, as if you could sit all day and reminisce on the good old ways. Pull up a chair and rest a spell.

We can assure you that if this photo had sound, you would hear barking dogs; you would hear the owners opening screen doors to see who was on their property. You would hear crickets and frogs and see lightening bugs; all-the-while, the buzz of lights from the lot at the Dollar General next door is a perpetual reminder that retail is a stone's throw away.

Hydrangea Haven.... or Heaven

Today, we head a few blocks north from yesterday's photo to the corner of Tate sand West Market Street. This hydrangea is as beautiful as specimens grown by members of the National Hydrangea Society. This blue mophead is taller than the porch rail and the scene looks like grandmother's porch down a quiet rural road. In actuality, the intersection is very busy. The wrap-around porch is part of a house known as the Kennedy Chase House. Two lawyers, Chut & Brackett, and Swaim Tax Accounting have their offices here. Formerly it was the law office Mike Barber who was also a city councilman. 

We drive past this thriving-- yet, likely neglected-- hydrangea and wonder why ours in the back yard has half-opened blooms and wilts at the drop of a hat. It seems like the most neglected hydrangeas are the hardiest. We do know that the blue ones have more aluminum in the soil that the pink ones.

If it stays this hot in Greensboro (96 degrees yesterday), we might have to go calling on this business with iced-tea in arm so that we can rest a spell and enjoy the beauty of these flowers. How is your luck with hydrangeas? We're headed to this website to learn a little more about them.

Old Tobacco Barn

This tobacco barn, located in Guilford County, is about the polar opposite of yesterday's Summit Avenue mansion. However, don't be fooled, this humble structure has a big role in North Carolina's history. Tobacco was first introduced to North Carolina when the early settlers from Virginia were looking for a crop that would grow in the poor soil of the sandhills and would be marketable in Europe.  North Carolina ranks first in the US with respect to tobacco production and every step of the process from leaves in fields to the finished pack can be found in our state. The 2006, annual farm income for tobacco was $506.2 million (reference). UNC--TV has a fabulous timeline on the history of tobacco in North Carolina (here).

Today's photo represents the farming end of the cigarette industry. Historically, tobacco farming was a whole-community effort. When the tobacco was ready, it was not uncommon for children to unload the sleds of tobacco pulled in by the mules & tractors. Men, including young adults, primed the tobacco and hung it in the barns. Often it was the women who tied tobacco to sticks. Basically, everyone chipped in to get the tobacco ready.

North Carolina has a love-hate relationship with the product. As much as tobacco contributes to our place in the global economy, we know how bad it is for one's health and can only hope that our friends and loved ones don't partake. Previously, we featured the farm end here and the manufacturing end here. 

You've Got Mail

Yesterday, we featured a part of Randleman Road that is holding on to old-time ways. Today, we see a mailbox that evokes memories of yesteryear. It is located on Immanuel Road near Hunter Elementary School. In North Carolina, we like colorful mailboxes and like to grow clematis vines on them. While you see the rusting, green country mailbox in the foreground, in the background, the city, highway signs of Merritt Drive are slowly choking out the rural feel of this part of town. However, we can't drive past 3438 without wanting to stop and share a glass of iced tea and reminisce with the owners. Is your personal style represented in your mailbox? Does your mailbox make people smile? Do you look forward to daily surface mail delivery or are you more interested in your electronic in-box?

Like Greensboro's landscape, the US Postal Service is undergoing changes. If we're reading the data correctly, revenue is down in fiscal year 2011 (here). Perhaps that reflects the increase in electronic communication. However, in North Carolina, what's gone is not forgotten. The North Carolina State Archives has a postal history project available online! No stamp necessary-- yet.

R is for Randleman Road

It is time for ABC Wednesday already and "R" is for Randleman Road!

Randleman Road begins in South-Central Greensboro, branching off from Freeman Mill Road. It merges with Elm-Eugene, and continues south through Level Cross, eventually becoming  Main Street in the community of Randleman. You may recognize Randleman, NC as the location of the Richard Petty Museum and the home of Victory Junction Camp. NASCAR's roots run deep in North Carolina and Randleman is no exception!

From stem to stern, Randleman Road is approximately 18 miles long and is listed as having almost 300 homes. The home above, still near Greensboro just down from Libby Hill Seafood, represents the Randleman Road of yesteryear. From the photo, you see the classic, immaculate "set a spell" front porch, the carport, the truck with its hood up, well-groomed shrubs, a swing, and a few out-buildings. As rural as this scene looks, were you to have a panoramic view, you would see restaurants, franchises, strip malls, signs with professional lettering and others with hand painted lettering. You would see messages written in English as well as Spanish. Much of Randleman Road is being sold for not only businesses but also for sub-divisions. New single-family homes abound in this part of the county. However, also found, are homes like the one above, where families guard the traditions of the generations before them and remember their own childhood as if it were yesterday. 

If you like today's photo, you might enjoy Greensboro's A-Q street views in the series. Stay tuned! We're driving around looking for an "S" street!

Paraskevidekatriaphobia and the Patriotic Barn

Today is Friday, the 13th. If just the sound of that day and date together has you shaking, you suffer from paraskevidedatriaphobia. The concept is cultural, as in some areas of the world (Spain Latin America, Romania, and Greece) Tuesday the 13th is to be feared. In general, 13 is a number often avoided in the USA; however, if you notice, our flag has 13 stripes, representing our 13 original colonies, an instance of a positive association with the number. Did you know that there are 13 letters in "E Pluribus Unum?  On the dollar bill, there are 13 stars above the eagle, 13 levels of the truncated pyramid, 13 leaves on the olive branch, 13 arrows held by the eagle, and 13 bars on the shield? So, in a way, 13 is a patriotic number!

This patriotic barn is an example of the little surprises awaiting at many turns in the road throughout rural North Carolina. Located in the incorporated part of Summerfield, Guilford County, this barn predates the population explosion in North Carolina at the end of the 20th century. This once mighty structure is one wind storm away from ruin; however, while standing, it reflects the patriotism of the owner and is eye candy to photographers. This is one of our "you know you're a local if" shots. You know you're a local if you've driven past this structure!

Between natural disasters, tumbing economics, and political issues, the world has been swishing with change. We suspect that Americans aren't the only ones feeling patriotic. If you are flying your flag today, wherever you are in the world, please provide us with a link! We're sharing this photo with Skywatch Friday where we all display that patch of blue above our head with pride. HAPPY Friday, the 13th! Happy weekend!

Mother's Day 2011

Today is Mother's Day; hopefully, you are celebrating the day with your mother-- either in person or in spirit. The above photo of a mother and her children was taken at the Revolutionary War reenactment in Country Park this past March. The mom walks with her sons tethered to her side. (During the colonial era, little boys wore loose gowns until they were potty trained). Leading the way, her daughter walks confidently a few paces ahead. The picture represents motherhood at its best-- a rewarding, uphill, hike, enjoying your little miracles of life every step of the way. 

In honor of all the moms out there, we'd like to share a few Sacred Sunday quotes:

Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living ~~Genesis 3:20

I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all of my life. ~~Abraham Lincoln

If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been. ~~Robert Brault.

I miss thee, my Mother. Thy image is still the deepest impressed on my heart. ~~Eliza Cook

                                                                                                                        (more quotes here).

Finding Beauty Where You Least Expect It

In Greensboro, Sunday was glorious. The sun was shining; the air was warm and breezy. Many business were closed; families were together and the streets were noticeably still.  After the Easter services, picnic shelters were filled with large, extended families enjoying a day at the park together. As parents prepared picnic food, children were playing tag and riding bikes. How can you top such a beautiful day? 

Late afternoon, we went for a walk through Fisher Park, happening upon a lovely rose bush. The sun was perfect for photographing its blooms. First, we took pictures of its fresh rosebuds and roses at peak. Then, we noticed the stem above, with just two petals hanging on and a dried center.  L.H. Bailey in his 1925 "Manual of Gardening," reminds us, "The satisfaction of a garden does not depend on the area, nor, happily, on the cost or rarity of the plants. It depends on the temper of the person. One must first seek to love plants and nature, and then to cultivate the happy peace of mind that is satisfied with little" (p. 1).

For our friends at Mellow Yellow Monday, is this rose half alive or half dead?

"J" is for Jessup Grove Road

Today is ABC Wednesday and "J" is for Jessup Grove Road. The above farm, at the corner of Jessup Grove and Lewiston Roads, is how much of Guilford County looked in earlier years. It is one of 52 homes on Jessup Grove. According to the NCSU & A&T SU Cooperative Extension Service, Guilford County has the largest horse population in North Carolina. Horses account for 4.6 million dollars of income for our county-- over half of the livestock revenue. These horses on Jessup Grove live the new-rural lifestyle, meaning that they are beside several housing developments. On warm afternoons couples can be seen jogging or pushing strollers and walking their dogs past this farm. 

We featured Jessup Grove Road today because "Jessup" is a well-known name in Greensboro. Jessup Service  is a heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and refrigeration service that has been in business in Greensboro since 1950. The biggest surprise to us is that in 2001, Jessup Service Inc. was sold to Suzanne Brown. And so, a woman is behind the Jessup Service name on the softball and baseball jerseys that we will likely see again this season!

In researching the "J" streets in Greensboro, we quickly learned that there are 57 "J" streets and they are all over the map. Most locals have heard of Joyner St. near UNCG and Jefferson Road that connects Friendly Avenue to New Garden Road. However, did you know there is a J Street, a JJ Drive, a Jane Street, a Jans Court and a Justamere Farm Road? Of all the "J" streets, Julian, south of Lee Street and near Bennett College, has the most houses: 129. Stop back next week to see what "K" will bring. See GDP's previously featured streets here A-I.

Going Down to the River to Pray

Like father, like son... All is not buildings and crosses on Greensboro Daily Photo's Sunday religious posts. Today, we offer this photo of two of the many troops who were reading scripture during the pre-battle church service. Last Sunday morning, just before the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, reenacters were making ready. Others were meeting down by the river to pray.

The weather was beautiful and it was a peaceful lakeside sitting at the Sunday morning church service in Country Park at the encampment. While not quite from the same time period, the spiritual, "Down to the River to Pray" kept coming to mind as we listened. If you want to step out of the 18th century and hear the Alison Krauss version, see this video. The music and photos of actual baptisms are well worth viewing:

Battle of Guilford Courthouse This Weekend

This weekend, Guilford County will be reliving the late 18th century and the Revolutionary War. Reenactors will be pouring into Greensboro right and left for the Reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. If you are anywhere near Old Battleground or New Garden Road at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, you can be part of the 230th anniversary weekend. Already, the Revolutionary War Lecture Series is in full swing. Tonight at 7pm Historian Randell Jones will present "Before they Were Heroes at King's Mountain" at the park's visitor center. Call 336-288-1776 (like that catchy phone number???) to ensure there will be a seat for you. Same time/same place on Friday, you can attend "Old Ninety-Six, Crossroads and Revolution."

The schedule for this weekend is filled with camp activities, battles, crafts, music, guided walking tours, lectures, performances and demonstrations. So much to do here; so much to photograph. Call ahead as events might be cancelled or relocated due to weather. The above photo is from last year and the haze is smoke from a nearby battle that was in process. Below, check out the 1:30 video clip.  

Revolution Park

The sun rises over the three-acre Revolution Park at 2200 Yanceyville Street, at the beginning of Cornwallis Drive. If this softball field could talk, it would recount many fun times. For decades, workers from Revolution MIll, just down the street, came for picnics with their families and played ball from dawn to dusk. Workers at Revolution Mill were a close community; living, working, enjoying recreation, socializing, and attending school and church all within a few miles of the mill. Owners saw to it that their workers' children had access to a sound education and to family-friendly recreation. 

The park is a still-active city facility and, while textile looms were silenced in 1982, in 2003, the mill was purchased and renovated for office space. Preserving the integrity of the buildings, the $40 million dollar renovation has resulted in nearly 100 businesses opening within the structure. The owners endeavor to make the new facility the heart of the community. Many families on Maple, Cypress, Walnut, Fairview and surrounding streets have memories of Revolution Mill and Park that are as strong as the sun reflecting and refracting in this photo. When the weather warms, families will be filling up the field and the bleachers.

This post will be shared with Skywatch Friday.

B is for (East) Bessemer Avenue

Out of the 234 Greensboro streets beginning with the letter "B", this week's featured street is East Bessemer Avenue. Prior to the 1957 annexation into Greensboro, Bessemer was actually a town east of Greensboro. Bessemer School was a 1st- 12th grade public school for the Bessemer community. (Read its fascinating history with great links here). Until the eastern section of Wendover Avenue was constructed in the 1960's, Bessemer Avenue was the main artery to and from the east side of town. The Summit/Bessemer Avenue intersection was just north of the homes of some of Greensboro's most prominent citizens.

Bessemer residents billed themselves as blue-collar and working-class families. Many were mill workers. These families formed a tight knit community that valued the education of their children, almost above all. Teachers were respected community members and school athletics did a lot for uniting the community. Graduates of Bessemer schools remain active today, meeting in person as well as on Facebook. In the WWII era, a great community memory was built when actor Charleton Heston spent part of his military career at the army's Overseas Replacement Depot (O.R.D.), located in the East Bessemer/Huffman Street/Winston Street area.

East Bessemer Avenue has 86 homes; West Bessemer has 65 homes. Today's photo, located at 932 E. Bessemer Avenue, is a curb market in the business section. It has been an E. Bessemer landmark since 1955. For our friends at ABC Wednesday, "B" is for Bessemer!

McIver Education Center

Today, we are at Charles D. McIver Education Center, located at 1401 Summit Avenue at the corner of Textile Drive. McIver Ecuation Center is part of the Guilford County School System and, according to their website, serves students from age 5-22 with moderate to several developmental delays, autism, and other educational needs. Our local system is just digging out from four snow days. Today, students, teachers, and staff, at McIver included, will be readjusting to the faster-paced, and more-structured schedule of being back in school.

In earlier years, the above facility was built as Proximity Public School for children of the local textile mill community of which Proximity Manufacturing Mill was a part. Proximity was the first mill of the Cone Brothers and, the school was in close proximity to the mill as the Cone family valued education.  According to local historian, Gayle Hicks Fripp, in her book GREENSBORO NEIGHBORHOODS, Volume II, this building was constructed in 1928 and the architect was Charles C. Hartman. As Frick points out, noteworthy is the brick and stone checker motif on the wings.

Also nearby is Proximity United Methodist Church. For sure, when Proximity was Proximity Public School, many students lived close enough to this neighborhood school that they could go home for lunch. Still chiseled on the header, at the center of the school, are the words, "PROXIMITY PUBLIC SCHOOL."

For Facebook users, Proximity School has started a community page, although it doesn't appear to have been discovered yet. If you attended Proximity Public School check the page out. This post is part of our 2011 Skywatch Friday series where we show a slice of the sky above Greensboro whether is vibrant blue, dull gray, or anything in between.

Coble Farm on West Friendly Avenue

Locals will recognize this farm on West Friendly Avenue, just past Guilford College Road. The snow really evokes yesteryear. This is an image of what Friendly used to look like-- before townhouses, apartment complexes and Friends' Home West sprang up. All around this property are modern buildings; however, this barn and silo are reminders of all the farms that used to be in the area. If you are interested in rural farm land & related NC links, here is an interesting link. Guilford County is the third largest of North Carolina's 100 counties and, until the last few years, seemed considerably rural (as evidenced by all of the roads ending in _______ Dairy Road [Gallimore Dairy Road, Carlson Dairy Road, Thacker Dairy Road, Williams Dairy Road, etc.]) . To learn more about preserving open space in Guilford County, this is the link for you! 

This Skywatch Friday post is our last photo for 2010. As you count down to New Year's Eve, please remember to be safe. Likely, the GDP family will be seated in the living room watching the ball drop from Times Square in NYC as we plan our year-in-review post for January 1st. All of the City Daily Photo sites are encouraged to post their best photo of 2010 tomorrow. Stop back and see what we selected!

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Here we see a singing quartet at First Friday in Downtown Greensboro on December 3rd. What a great way to ring in the holiday with people singing carols. The first known Christmas carols date to fourth century Rome and the tradition has many interesting facets (read more here). Caroling quartets with their a capella, vocal harmonies, bring the holiday season alive. We wish we knew the name of this festive, costumed  group singing on South Elm Street. They were fabulous.

Merry Christmas Greensboro. The best Christmas present for us would be to let us know what we can post for you in the upcoming year.

Phone Home

Pay phones are quickly becoming a thing of the past-- recent, ancient history. In the era before cell phones, these public phones were found in every high traffic area. Pay phones have an interesting history, "In 1889, the first public coin telephone was invented by William Gray and installed at a bank in Hartford, Connecticut. The invention quickly caught on and by 1902, there were 81,000 pay phones in the United States" (reference here). Pay phone stations, where a person mediated the call, predated the stand-alone phones and the phone booths. Wonder how many pay phones are in the US and in Greensboro today? London has always been famous for its phone booths..... As we enter this holiday season, we encourage to pick up a phone and call those people who have touched your life.

If you are in Greensboro? Can you guess the location of this phone? Click here to see if you are right! When you click through the location will make perfect sense.

"S" is for Skating in Downtown Greensboro

As of last week, we've got our own little Rockefeller Center, or so it seems with a 40x85' skating rink in downtown Greensboro! This photo was taken Saturday afternoon when young and old alike were out having a blast on our temporary rink. The ice rink is set up between Cafe Europa, The Cultural Arts Center, and the amphitheater in Festival Park on Davie Street.  Having opened November 17th, it is the kick off event for Greensboro's Downtown in December and Piedmont Winterfest 2010. The rink will remain in place until January 22nd. If, like us, you are not in Paris or NYC for winter break, please make an effort to visit downtown Greensboro in December. Between First Friday (12/3), the rink, the shops,the performances, the restaurants, etc., the city has made a real effort to provide fun, family friendly activities for December.

Today is ABC Wednesday and "S" is for SKATING, with or without SNOW!!!!