Greensboro Daily Photo

Gateway Gardens and University Research Park

After nearly a decade in the planning, Gateway Gardens is a reality. It is located on 11 acres of land between East Lee and Florida Streets adjacent to Barber Park.  Greensboro Beautiful, the non-profit that brought Greensboro the Bog and Bicentennial Gardens and the Arboretum, brings us Gateway Gardens. They do so, in collaboration with Greensboro's Parks and Recreation Department, as well as with the help of many private citizens. The above entrance from the parking lot is a mere prelude to the colorful, child-friendly space that blends local artwork, especially sculpture, with beautiful flora and walking trails. There is an outdoor classroom as well an many places to sit along the way. We will feature other views on Greensboro Daily Photo this week.

If you look closely at the building in the center of this photo, you will see yet another exciting venture for Greensboro. NCA&T and UNCG, the two North Carolina state universities located in Greensboro, have entered into a joint venture to build Gateway University Research Park. Anticipated to open later this year, the 64 million dollar facility will house the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, one of North Carolina's most exciting 21st century initiatives. For sure, the school will attract students from around the world who are interested in pursuing Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in the nanotechnology fields. In the meantime, with the Gateway Gardens, Gateway University Research Park and Barber Park, East Greensboro will be quite an amazing GATEWAY to the Gate City. If you have about 9 minutes, we highly recommend you watch the video clip put together about the Gateway Gardens project (read/view here). If you are interested in the Gateway Research Park, read/view here. 

CHARTreUSE

Looking for something to do on Saturday? Across the street from yesterday's new student housing compound on Merritt Drive is a consignment store called CHArtReUSe. In the neighborhood of the former Pomona Cotton Mill, a husband and wife team opened the "artistic reuse" store last July. They make some of the artwork that is for sale and represent other, mostly-local artists. CHArtReUSe is an eclectic mix of styles ranging from 1950's bowling alley bright to garden-white shabby chic. Many of the items in the store are repurposed. For example, Christmas cookie tins are cut and assembled into metal flowers for the patio. They take old, tired furniture, paint the wood and reupholster it. As with the items in the store, we're predicting that this part of town is on its way to being transformed.

After milling about CHArTReUSe for a while, we're heading to the Green Bean for the collaborative artists' Hand-to-Hand event from 3-10pm today. We're sharing this photo with our friends at Weekend Reflection who will appreciate our efforts at taking an artsy photo with lots of reflections in the details.

Friendship Community Church of God

Friendship Community Church of God is located on Guilford College Road near West Market Street. They also double as Myanmar (Burma) Church and, on Friday and Saturdays, they are the "Iglesia de Dios Vida Eterna." While the church embraces people of all ethnicities, for the ethnically Burmese or Hispanic, they offer special services. The congregations don't appear to have a website; they do, however, have a new Facebook page (here). As is the case with many churches in Greensboro, it is hard to tell if Friendship Community is affiliated with a traditional religion (like Catholicism or Baptist) or of they are a modern non-affiliated religion. They don't appear to have religious insignia, like crosses. The facility stays busy all weekend!

We took this photo the day we made our 10 mile ride along Guilford College in preparation for our ABC Wednesday post, "G" is for Guilford College.

Addendum: Dina, we found this link about the Myanmar Church. It appears they have about 170 members. 

Steelers Fans in Greensboro

Last month, these Pittsburgh Steelers fans were standing around waiting for the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. parade to begin. As seen on the green street sign, they were gathered on Martin Luther King Jr Drive in East Greensboro. It was a gray winter day.  Informal surveys and NFL clothing choices indicated that more citizens of Greensboro were in favor of the Pittsburgh Steelers. So, today is not only a sad day for Pittsburgh but also for Steelers fans in Greensboro and across the nation. The Super Bowl was an exciting game-- determined by the last possession. Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers. Even with injuries, they played a great game. We hope the man in the center of the photo continues to wear his jacket as six Super Bowl wins is something to be proud of. If he has one, can, however, put his terrible towels, away!

Greensboro is a great sports city. We love athletic events of all kinds and are especially excited that the Women's and Men's 2011 ACC Basketball Championships are in Greensboro in March! Check out our old March Madness photos.

PUNK ROCK

Vanity tags are a reflection of one's personality and this driver must like music. Spotted on Cornwallis Drive more than once is the PUNK ROCK mobile. If you have a vanity tag, what is it and why? If you don't but were offered one for free, what would have put on it? What are some interesting vanity plates that you've seen? Here's one we featured last spring.

With a hint of reflection on this bumper, we're uploading this photo on James' Weekend Reflection. Besides, we're doing another kind of "reflecting" on vanity tags!

"Just a Cup of Coffee"

February 1st, 1960 four students from Greensboro's North Carolina A&T University ushered in a movement of non-violent protests when they led the Greensboro Sit-Ins. The protest began with the actions of David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair, Jr (Jibreel Khazan), and Joseph McNeil. They insisted on sitting at the lunch counter in Woolworth's Department Store on Elm Street, even though they were African Americans. Getting a cup of coffee "to go" was not acceptable. Their brave act contributed significantly to the Civil Rights Movement and to reversing policies of racial segregation. The poster in the photo is a reference to this significant event. The young girl and her mentor were doing their civic duty and marching in the cold in Greensboro's recent Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Day Parade.  A piece of artwork, related to their poster, can be seen here. 

Over the years Greensboro, North Carolina has played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement. Last year, we opened the International Civil Rights Museum. Additionally, we have two historically-black institutions of higher education: NC A&T and Bennett College. Ensuring equal rights and equal opportunities is important to our city and, if you want to learn more about the Civil Rights Movement, Greensboro is a great place to start. See related posts here on Greensboro Daily Photo. See here the front of the statue at NCA&T dedicated to the February 1 Movement and here for a different view.

Listen to a short audio segment of "Lift Every Voice and Sing,"  a poem written James Weldon Johnson and put to music by his brother John. The song is often called the African-American National Anthem.

 

The Bulldog Resides in Greensboro

"Who let the dogs out?"   Mack Truck, Inc., that's who... and the above photo is an 8-foot-tall gold statue of Mack Truck's trusty mascot, the bulldog. Just as the bulldog is a heavy dog, Macks are heavy vehicles.

Last year was the Year of the Dog in the Chinese Zodiac and the first full year of Mack World Headquarters in Greensboro on National Service Road. Their headquarters, just down the street from Volvo Truck, rolled into Greensboro, September 2009. Mack Truck is a Volvo Group Company so this move, during a time of corporate restructuring, was a financially sound one for Mack/Volvo. Mack vehicles are sold in over 45 countries worldwide. This is a business we can be proud to have housed in Greensboro. If you ever have a chance, thank this company for being here.

Oh, and for you Georgia and NC State fans, now you don't have to leave town to get a photo with your favorite mascot! Since this IS actually a sign, I'm sharing it with the sign, sign meme.

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!

Country BBQ

BBQ is to North Carolina what oranges are to Florida, rodeo to Texas, and Pizza to New York. Generally, North Carolina BBQ is chopped pork on a sandwich or a platter served with vinegar-based slaw and hush puppies. Here we see a behind-the-counter scene from Country BBQ on Wendover Avenue. Nothing completes the BBQ experience like prompt service, a friendly waitress with a southern accent, and a good cup of sweet tea. All of the above was provided during our recent visit to Country BBQ. Do you have a favorite BBQ place in Greensboro? In a different city? Greensboro's "Greensboring" blogger, votes, hands down for Country BBQ (read here). 

 This is our contribution to Weekend Reflection.

Near the Airport and I-40

Beep, beep! This California Sidecar truck on the left, licensed in Virginia, could be hauling trikes, side cars, accessories or after-market trike conversions. Recently, it was spotted near the airport and I-40, on Galimore Dairy Road, adding some great color to the winter landscape. Likely, it was refueling as this area is a popular spot for trucks to purchase fuel. To the right, you see the sign for Marathon fuel as well as Kinder Morgan. Kinder Morgan is a private company that stores and transports petroleum products, CO2 and natural gas. According to their website, the company has approximately 37,000 miles of pipeline and 180 terminals in North America. Here we see a Greensboro terminal. Kinder Morgan is an interesting company as they don't actually own fuel but transport it for others. Also, the CEO is paid $1 a year with the rest of his income tied to what he earns for shareholders.

Even though this side of town has an industrial look, one can still find great scenes to photograph, including Skywatch Friday shots (see here & here too). Over the last two years, Skywatch Friday has been one of GDP's most popular features. It is uplifting to monitor the sky above one's city. If you want a quick scroll through all GDP's sky photos go here. We've spent a lot of time counting clouds and chasing rainbows around town!

 

Tate Street Coffee House

Having opened in 1993, Tate Street Coffee House (TSCH) is 18 years old. While other coffee houses have come and gone on Tate Street, TSCH has thrived and continues to be one of the main anchor businesses on this street, just east of UNCG. Over the years, the menu has expanded to include light sandwiches and they now take credit cards.

Last night was perfect for stopping by for a cup of hot tea. The inside is decorated with colored lights for Christmas and students from nearby UNCG and Greensboro College were hanging out finishing research and writing papers. This time of year, just about every other table has a college student glued to a laptop hugging a hot cup of caffeine. While requently, TSCH features live music, mid-week during finals crunch time is not exactly the time to offer entertainment.

Although their names are not featured on the Facebook page for TSCH, as far as we can tell, Matt and Ann Russ are still the owners. We used to get by for coffee a lot and remember Matt greeting his regulars and having their 'usual' ready when the customer got to the front of the line. We hope he is still at it because it feels great greeted and served efficiently. The coffee shop is also very involved in Tate Streets visual and performance arts festivals each fall and spring (see here and here). See another scene of Tate Street and TSCH here. Here's to another 18 + years to TSCH. They have been a good neighbor!

Open Space Café Theater

The Open Space Cafe Theater is another place to go in Greensboro to be entertained. This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago so Jimmy Dean has left the building! Up next, at the end of November is PEEPERS by Walt Vail, the winner of the Open Space Café Theater's  (OSCT) first annual new play competition. The OSCT has been featuring live, professional theater in Greensboro for four years now. Inside is a foyer where you can buy beverages and snacks. Beyond the foyer is a small stage and also an area with cafe seating where desserts and beverages can be enjoyed while being entertained. The actors are VERY close to the audience during these performances. Sometimes they even build you, the audience, into the performance. Literally, you can reach out and touch them!

At times, the proprietor, Joe Nierle, books music acts too. This December, back by popular demand, he will be showing TRAILER PARK CHRISTMAS in December. We really enjoyed the New Year's Eve event we attended here!

"P" is for Preddy

Historic marker J80 on Summit Avenue is dedicated to George Preddy. Mr. Preddy was born down Summit Avenue a couple of miles east of downtown Greensboro.  As stated on the marker, Preddy was a World War II fighter pilot. He was born in Greensboro in 1919 and attended Greensboro High School. He doubled up on classes so that he could graduate at age sixteen.

Preddy served as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. At the time of his death, he was the highest ranking ace in the European theater and had earned a Distinguished Service Cross. Ironically, Preddy died on Christmas Day 1944 as a result of friendly fire. He was only twenty five. At the time of his death, Second Lieutenant Preddy had accomplished 26.83 aerial victories and 5 ground victories in 143 missions (read more in the archives of the Greensboro Historical Museum here). In 1968, a portion of I-85 was named Preddy Boulevard in honor of George and his brother Bill, also a pilot killed in World War II. If you are interseted in the military accomplishments of George Preddy, Wikipedia has a fair of information (here).

In the background of the photo, you can see buildings in downtown Greensboro. Some historic markers are in high-traffic hard to read areas; however, the one to Preddy is very accessible on Summit Avenue which, in Preddy's day, was a very prominent part of our city. Today, on Greensboro Daily Photo, "P" is for for Preddy on ABC Wednesday. Thank you for visiting.

Orrell Design

Orell Design, established February 2003 in downtown Greensboro, is the kick-off photo for our week of "O's" (inspired by ABC Wednesday here). We've wanted to feature Orrell Design for a long time because of the quality hair cutting, coloring, styling, etc. and fine spa experiences available at Orrell Design. Owner Kerrie Orrell, when not at the shop, is busy doing fine community work. She is always donating products, services and time to worthy causes. Likely, in the summertime, if you see young swimmers running around town with stripes of pink in their hair, Kerrie has donated her time for a breast cancer fundraiser! If you see a child whose hair was shortened by 10 inches overnight, chances are, one of the stylists at Orrell Design cut it for Locks of Love. Kerrie, as energetic as the Ever Ready Bunny, also manages to care for her three children. This Greensboro-grown proprietor is a role model for us all.

Orrell Design, located at 440 North Eugene Street is our contribution to Mellow Yellow Monday (see that yellow building to the right?).

 

N is for Night Deposits

This is the night deposit safe of the Guilford National Bank at the corner of Elm and Washington Streets. Guilford National Bank opened in 1934. At one time, the building also housed the Greensboro National Bank. Neither Greensboro nor Guilford National Banks are still in existence; however, the safe remains-- another artifact of a bygone era. The safe evokes the era when everyone carried large bags of cash to the bank. We were a cash and carry society. The bank building is still a dynamic and vibrant rock solid place.

By chance, we stumbled upon an interesting case that the Guilford National brought against the Southern Railway Company on behalf of the estate of Jesse Coble in 1963. This week in N on ABC Wednesday and some more "N's" on our to-do list: N is for News & Record. The N&R has compiled an interesting list of history related to our Greensboro banks (here). N is also for Nido (Qubein), president and powerhouse fundraiser of High Point University. N is for New Garden Nursery! We are working remotely today. If we get a chance, we will share this with our fellow bloggers at ABC Wednesday. As you can see from Monday and Tuesday this week, on days we don't link to our international viewers, local viewers tend to look without commenting :(

220 NORTH-- Battleground Avenue

Recently, a passenger in our car commented about a new sign in Irving Park where Lawndale, Battleground, and Westover Terrace converge. Do you notice anything different about this sign? Well, if you are a typography aficionado, you will notice the font right away. Traditionally, the Federal Highway Administrations fonts have been sans-serif (see here). The US Federal Government and Pentagon have been in the business of highway fonts since the early 1940's. Lately, serifs, or the "semi-structural details on the ends of some of the strokes that make up letters and symbols" have been creeping into road signs. Historically, consensus has been that plainer fonts are easier to read, especially when zooming down the highway. Personally, we did find the "new and improved" font in the sign above a little harder to read. How about you? 

There are lots of websites where you can identify fonts, if you like the "name that font" game. When we went to identafont, the font above looks like impressum. If you're loving this font talk, likely you've seen the 2007 movie, entitled, HELVETICA.

 

Vicks VapoRub

Well, it is high time we feature the Richardson family and make sure the world knows that Vicks VapoRub was first compounded in Greensboro (see sign above) in the late 1800's. In 1912 the menthol salve got renamed Vicks VapoRub. The flu pandemic of 1918 really made Richardson's product a household name as it was the most popular croup/cold/flu remedy at the time. Sales of the inhaled breathing treatment soared from $900,000 to $2.5 million in that year. While Proctor and Gamble bought Richardson-Vicks, Inc. in 1985, we are proud to say that America's #1 inhaled breathing treatment got its start in Greensboro, North Carolina. There aren't many commercial products around today that were thriving 100 years ago: VapoRub is one of the elite! If you want to learn more about the history of Vicks VapoRub, go to the 100 year interactive timeline here! (Click on the pictures of the produces and information pops up). If you want to learn more about Mr. Richardson, read this article archived at the North Carolina Museum of History. The article is called, "The Man Who Helped the World Breathe Easier."

We made sure to get a slice of sky in the background so that we could share today's post with the world on SkyWatch Friday! We tried to capture the sky on a night when it was close to the color of VapoRub's cobalt blue jar.

 

Greensboro Rubber Stamp

The sign on the awning reads Greensboro Rubber Stamp Company. This is a view of the rear of the building, the Battleground side. We're thinking that the company is actually located across Grecade Street from this location. At any rate, we loved the old lettering and were thrilled to see that the business has a website. As brick and mortar businesses became harder and harder to maintain, a good website makes all the difference in the world. 

This blue sky over Greensboro is our contribution to Skywatch Friday where over 300 people will post pictures of the sky in their corner of the globe!

 

Fourth of July on Sunday!!!

With today being Sunday and also the Fourth of July, we thought this photo captured a little bit of the spirit of both. In the above scene on Elm Street, you see an historical marker providing details about a Methodist cemetery. Also in view are people walking to and from Fun Fourth celebrations and one of the American flags lining Elm Street. The tree leaves remind us of the sparklers children will enjoy later on tonight. If you are local, don't forget the showing of the musical 1776 at the Carolina Theater, the fireworks at Grimsley High School, and the rest of the Fun Fourth events. Hope to see you at one of them! 

In the meantime, let's take a minute out of your Sunday to remember those who are with us only in spirit. Then, take time today to let those around you know how much you care. Have a fun, safe, Fourth-of-July Sunday!!!

 

Vacation Bible School

Our Sacred Sunday spiritual photo takes us to an announcement of vacation bible school. As summer vacation approaches for school children, local churches are polishing up their vacation bible school programs. Here we see the banner on West Market Street in front of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. EGYPT: Joseph's Journey from Prison to Palace is a commercial package available for purchase so that church volunteers have an effective curricula with engaging activities, crafts, and worksheets. The sign evokes a tradition that has gone on for generations: Kicking off the summer with vacation bible school. Can you imagine 5 half-day sessions of summer camp for the whopping fee of $10? If your child has the time and you have a compatible belief system, this is an opportunity that is hard to pass up. 
 

Fishbones, Inspired by Tim Burton

Fishbones is a restaurant, literally, on the corner of Walker & Elam. This is a beautifully wonky entrance that Tim Burton would love. Below the fishbones sign, the reflection almost looks like bats flying. And the blue in the sky looks like wings. According to Yahoo-local, Fishbones offers a "funky cuisine in a neoclassical atmosphere...... boast(ing) a large variety of international and regional selections on their menu."  Hopefully Mr. & Mrs. GDP will eat there soon so we can snap a picture of the inside and provide our own review of the place. We know for sure however, that it is located on a very fun little corner of town and that its neighbor, The Blind Tiger, has been providing Greensboro with great music since 1988.

This is our contribution to James' Weekend Reflection.

 

Highway 68

If you are from Greensboro, likely, you know this photo was taken at the intersection of Highway 68 and Pleasant Ridge Road. This section of 68, just north of the airport, is known as Lynwood Smith Expressway. In Greensboro, there is also a Lynwood Drive, Lynwood Loop, Lynwood Lakes & Lynwood Lakes Baptist Church. Our google search reveals C. Lynwood Smith, Jr. is a local judge and that Dr. C.Lynwood Smith is a physician in Wake Forest, NC. However, after a few screens of searching, we're not seeing WHY this section of highway, a memorial highway,  is named Lynwood Smith Expressway. Who was the Lynwood Smith of the highway? Do you know????

Today, the 1,300 + people who maintain city daily photo blogs were encouraged to post a picture of a funny sign. Our signs aren't "ha ha" funny but they are FUN signs that situate the picture in Greensboro. When seeing the 68 North 68 South sign, one must decide: head north? south? go straight? It is kind of funny that the GREENsboro water tower is red checkered. Actually our city was named for Major General Nathanael Greene, even though the green trees could have you thinking otherwise. 

 
  Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Neese's Country Sausage Since 1917

Neese's Country Sausage opened in Guilford County in 1917. For nearly a century now, Greensboro, High Point and surrounding areas have been enjoying Neese's always-fresh pork products. Their clean, efficient pork processing plant is located behind the farmhouse at 1452 Alamance Church Road in southeastern Guilford County. This family-owned business delivers to supermarkets every day. Lately, The Neeses have taken to hunting down and restoring vintage delivery vehicles-- some of which were previously owned by the family. Additionally, for 50 years, they have had a booth at the State Fair in Raleigh-- a great place to sample items like liver pudding and c-loaf before investing in a pack. North Carolinians who eat Neese's sausage have been supporting the buy-local movement long before it was a movement! Look for the square pack in your grocery store today!

The two red flags on the mailboxes give us the green flag to post on Ruby Tuesday!

 

Reflecting on Greensboro's Past and Present

Go Greensboro Grasshoppers, so says John Klopp at his State Farm Insurance Office in downtown Greensboro. This reflection represents the view out John's window. The window reflects the most recognizable building downtown-- the JP building. From the parking lot, you can see Newbridge Park Stadium.

Since we're posting this for our friends at Weekend Reflection, we decided to take this opportunity to reflect and be thankful for the week. We're sharing David Hoggard's post on Greensboro's 1926 World War Memorial Stadium, that, to some, has outlived its usefulness . Hoggard quotes Edwin Jeffress (then part owner of one of the local newspapers and Greensboro's mayor in 1926 at the stadium's dedication). The inspirational words explain the name, World War Memorial Stadium.

"And so the stadium has been built by children's and widows' and wives' and rich men's wealth. It is here for the use of the coming generations; the soldier boys said they wanted no hollow granite, no useless monument to decorate our street corners, even no statuary or brass to remind us of those who have passed along after doing life's full duty, but they wanted something that would be useful; that would help develop mind and body; that would in this way be a perpetual memorial to those who have passed..., that those of us who follow should use our best efforts to make ourselves physically fit to answer any emergency... and when the call to duty comes, answer with a clear, strong voice, 'We are ready to do our bit.'

Thank you David for sharing the quote. This would be a good quote for public school children to memorize.

 

delicious...delicious....delicious

Not just your ordinary cake can be had at ... delicious... bakery on Battleground near the corner of Pisgah Church. As we enter wedding cake season, this bakery is creating some incredible and tasty designs. Additionally, they have cupcakes that look almost too beautiful to eat. We like to stop in, get a cup of coffee and cinnamon roll and sit back admire all the baked goods. Today, we sampled a fruit smoothie. Yummy.

So far it is a beautiful weekend in Greensboro. As soon as we finish this coffee, we think we're heading to the nearby greenway for a bike ride. This photo is being shared with the Weekend Reflection gang. You'll be looking at that TALL cake or that interesting poster in the window, advertising the upcoming activity dining for friends, and the Weekend Reflection gang will be looking at the reflection of the sky and truck! Something for everyone. Simply DELICIOUS..... no matter what!

 

April Showers... Bring May Flowers

This is what Greensboro looked like yesterday. As we exited Bryan Blvd., waiting at the red light on New Garden Road, this was our view.The eastbound car appeared to be swimming in wet asphalt. The sky and the street are the same color. As desolate as the intersection appears, it is actually a very busy intersection in a populated area of town. The curved roof on the horizon belongs to St. Paul's Catholic Church. The view reminds us that the northwest end of Guilford County is actually hilly. 

This composition is similar to a sunny day photo we took out near the Piedmont Triad International Airport. We do hope that the rainy weather yesterday means that May flowers are just around the corner and offer this for our international buddies at Sky Watch Friday.

 

First McDonald's Restaurant in North Carolina

On September 30, 1959, the first McDonald's Restuarant in North Carolina opened at 1101 Summit Avenue, at the intersection of Bessemer Avenue, in East Greensboro. Here is a photo of the store, still in the same location, fifty one years later. This store was opened by two WWII veterans back when the chain had less than 500 stores and hamburgers were a mere 15 cents. In our visit to North Carolina's oldest McDonald's, we must admit we were mightily impressed. The facility was completely renovated and spotless. Also, from the senior-citizen cleaning the dining area to the friendly and efficient cashiers, everyone seemed proud to work there. We were in and out in less than four minutes during a busy breakfast rush. We marveled at the woman who waited on us. Completely bilingual, she "just knew" whether to take an order in Spanish or English. For a nostalgic moment, stop in and order a burger, shake, and fries-- just like old times.

Another big event for Greensboro in 1959 was that local journalist Edward R Murrow interviewed Fidel Castro that year! Also in 1959, superintendent of the Greensoboro City Schools, Benjamin Lee Smith, wrote a paper, The Story of Desegregation in Greensboro. Wendover Avenue did not exist and Summit and Bessemer Avenues were main thoroughfares in and around our city. This McDonald's was opened in a prime real estate location.

Finally, we offer this photo for Skywatch Friday to be viewed around the world by this network of 300+ folks who are as proud of their sky photos as Ronald McDonald is of this store! By the way, curiously, in the winter, seagulls like to hang out near this McDonald's-- some 200+ miles from the ocean!  We managed to slip one into this photograph. Do you see him, above the clouds, directly above the flag pole?

 

John 3:16, on the Lawn, on Holden

The sign above begins "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son...... "

Every Sunday, we try to post something spiritual and are open to interesting "Sacred Sunday" photos from any denomination in Greensboro. This Holden Road family has placed their larger-than-a-human placard, proclaiming their love of Jesus right outside in their front yard. Driving from Bryan Blvd. towards Benjamin Parkway, this large sign, up on a hill, is hard to miss!

........... that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 Jesus the way, the truth, the life, ask him to be your today. 

The people who nailed this sign to their tree have picked  Bible verse John 3:16 to share with passerbys. If you put a giant sign in your own yard for all to read, what would you pick to write on it? Finally, to see our previous "Sacred Sunday" photos from around Greensboro, click here.

 

Sternberger School

One could learn much about the history of Greensboro just by studying the people our schools were named after. Sternberger School was named for Bertha Strauss Sternberger, the mother of Blanche (Mrs. Edward) Benjamin. Mrs. Sternberger was a prominent Greensboro citizen in the early 1900's and was the first woman on the city's school board. Her husband, Emanuel Sternberger, was one of the organizers and president of Revolution Cotton Mills in Greensboro. Together, they maintained a fabulous home in the neighborhood of Summit and Bessermer Avenues.

Daughter Blanche Sternberger Benjamin donated the nine-acre site for Sternberger School and it was constructed in 1946, making it the first school to be built in Greensboro after World War II. While the School has expanded from eight to twenty two classrooms over its sixty four year history, much of the character of the school remains the same-- from the deco style lettering above the entrance doors to the commitment to remaining a neighborhood school. The Benjamins were great philanthropists in Greensboro and lived down the road from Sternberger School on Northline Drive. See their home here. Today, we share this photo with Alieni's Monochrome aficianados.

 

Irving Park Plaza Meets All-Brite Signs

Spring spruce up has begun! Here we see All-Brite Signs of Randleman painting the signs for Irving Park Plaza. We knew we were in the south taking this picture because, the man in the bucket waived and smiled and NOBODY came up to us asking why we were taking pictures! Not only friendliness but also professionalism exuded from this crew. 

Developed in 1911, Irving Park is one of Greensboro's oldest neighborhoods and the houses there hold their value today. The hallmark of shopping in Irving Park is family owned businesses. The plaza and a nearby plaza offer everything from sewing machine repair to art galleries to a children's shoe store.  This is our contribution to Sky Watch Friday. While the sky is gray, the evergreen tree reminds us that nature may be dormant but it is alive and well!

 

Holliday's Hardware House

The corner of Spring Garden Street and Holliday Drive is awfully quiet these days. Gone are the Red Wing Shoes, the shoe polish in every color imaginable, the key cutting machine, the aluminum tubs, the sleds, and the red wagons. Oh yes, since 1956 sleds and red wagons lined the sidewalk. Radio flyers in every size; traditional and round sleds. Even more absent are the great conversations and personal service by the Crum/Holliday family. Truly, Holliday's Hardware House was the "Cheers" Bar of home repair. All that is left of the once thriving mom-and-pop hardware store is the signage, including the family's name on the dead-end street marker.

The good news is that, by early March, Adelaide's Corner Cottage, currently located just east of UNCG, will slide down Spring Garden Street and relocate here. Adelaide is one of the nicest proprietors you will ever meet, in her less-than-a-year in business, she has amassed a wealth of loyal customers. Adelaide has an eye for the artsy, cottage-y, chic collectibles and manages to sell them at a reasonable price. If you have to lose one family business, it is nice to know that it is being replaced by another.

We're sharing this shot of the wire, sign, and cloud-filled sky with the Sky Watch Friday Crowd!  

 

FedEx Greensboro

Varooom...... FedEx Greensboro is a reality. Here is a photo of the New FedEx Mid-Atlantic Air Hub, operating at our Piedmont Triad International Airport. With the capacity to sort up to 24,000 packages an hour, it is the company's fifth major U.S. Cargo hub. So, even if you haven't visited Greensboro, NC, maybe your packages have!

We wanted to share this grey-albeit-sky for Sky Watch Friday today since the new 9,000 ft. runway, built as part of the deal for Federal Express selecting Greensboro for its southeast sorting hub, quietly opened on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010.

 

Bank of North Carolina & Hardin's Florist Supply

Bank of North Carolina is a great name for a bank. In 1991, the bank opened with significant financial backing of five men: Groome Fulton, Bob Burleson, Lenny Peters, Lloyd Higgins, and Carl Hoffman. Here we see one of the sixteen branches, specifically, the one on Elm Street in Downtown Greensboro. Our State bird is a cardinal so the logo is befitting for a bank named for the State. We got tickled when the Hardin's Wholesale Florist Supply truck pulled up, creating a sort of flower garden for the cardinal to admire!

Hardin's Wholesale Florist Supply is another homegrown North Carolina business. Hardin's is a third generation North Carolina business that traces its roots to 1934 when Myrtle Hardin began making flower arrangements out of flowers grown in her yard. By 1940, the Hardins opened a retail shop and, over the years, the business has grown to a state-of-the-art 100,000 square foot headquarters in Liberty, NC with an inventory of over 14,000 items. We wonder if the florist was delivering flowers to the bank or making a deposit! We'll never know. However, we do know that both businesses are great examples of what North Carolinians can do when we put our minds to it!

We're sharing this one with Ruby Tuesday.

 

So Glad We're Here

This is a photo of the Anthropologie clothing store at Friendly center. In case you didn't notice, behind the word "glad," is a map of North Carolina. How nice to have a retailer express something so positive. We're happy to be here too. Let us know what you're up to this weekend. 

We just linked to the Weekend Reflections meme! 

Natural Science Center... YES!

We at GDP usually avoid being political. However, today, we're out encouraging people to vote YES! on the Bond Referendum for the Natural Science Center. Our family has used this community resource at every step of the way. We have visited and volunteered, participated in school field trips,  held birthday parties, shot photos, and gone there to get critters (found in our yard) identified. 

If the bond passes, the museum will be renovated and expanded, making an already great facility OUTSTANDING. We are all for these projects that benefit the whole community. If you are still unsure or considering voting no, please stop by the center this weekend and talk to someone about the bond. If you can't get there in person, at lease check out their website! Please get out and vote YES! tomorrow!

O. Henry-- Historic Marker

Downtown Greensboro, On Market Street, is this historic marker for short story writer, O. Henry. On April 20th, we featured the O.Henry monument. His short stories are so contemporary, it is hard to believe that he was born during the Civil War (and died in the year of the Mexican Revolution for that matter). 

Ever since our friend Alice suggested that O.Henry would be a great choice, were Greensboro to get a U-Haul truck designed for us, we have been devouring our collection of O.Henry short stories. What have you been reading lately? 

Stop by Monochrome Weekly if you like black and white photography.

Roundabout Twilight

Over half of the world's roundabouts are located in France. They are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. However, according to Wikipedia, the first modern roundabout in the United States wasn't constructed until in 1990 in Nevada. Roundabouts require the entering driver to yield to the driver already in the circle. They are supposed to be safer for drivers and pedestrians than traditional intersections. The roundabout in the photo is located at Lake Jeanette. Greensboro also has another one at the shopping plaza at Pisgah Church and one on Greene Street downtown. If you are interested in building one in your community, follow this link to a site that not only publishes articles about roundabouts but also gives you contacts for feasibility studies for your community.

The play on words "roundabout twilight" were selected because today is FRIDAY and we are participating in Skywatch Friday. We'd hoped for a better photo but roundabouts are hard to photograph! Do you like driving in them? Tell us your roundabout stories. We've heard that people who don't want the advances of a suitor arrange to meet in the middle of the roundabout, or better yet, in the center of a traffic circle in a big city!

Rainbow Car Wash on Battleground

Rainbow Car Wash, located at 2606 Battleground Avenue, is a burst of cheerful color on a busy road that gridlocks during rush hour. Imagine our delight when stuck in traffic only to look up and see the sign of the RAINBOW beside fluffy white clouds. The sign is much larger than it seems in this photo. We also took this picture at Rainbow Car Wash.

We are one of 340+ people participating in Sky Watch Friday where you can enjoy photos of the sky from around the world! At least four North Carolinians participate: here!

Greensboro Masonic Temple

The Masonic Temple, located at 426 W. Market Street in downtown Greensboro, is home to the Greensboro York Rite Bodies. Their annual fall festival will begin this Wed., September 2, 2009. According to Wikipedia, Freemasonry is a fraternal organization that began in the 16th century. Freemasonry is a system of morality based in belief in a Supreme Being. The highly-secretive organization is veiled in allegory and symbols. 

The Greensboro building is very attractive. However, we find the sign, featured today, with the iconic Masonic square and compass surrounding the letter "G" to be extremely intriguing. The weathered copper sign is a landmark on West Market Street.

Back to School in North Carolina

Today is Back to School Day for many North Carolina students, including the K-12 public school students in the Greensboro/Guilford County Schools. Here we see a path leading to James Benson Dudley Senior High School at 1200 Lincoln Street. Likely, by the time you are reading this post, many feet will be walking along this path towards the historic, dynamic, and newly-renovated Dudley campus. Here's to a great school year for our 70,000+ students and 2,500+ teachers in our 111 schools.