Greensboro Daily Photo

Brown-Gardiner Drug Store

The Brown-Gardiner Drug Store, with its pharmacy, soda fountain, and lunch counter, has been an Irving Park institution for over fifty years. On February 15th, the Greensboro News and Record ran a human interest story on two army buddies who found each other by chance at Brown-Gardiner. Kerman Copley, who works at Brown-Gardiner as a pharmacist's technician, recognized his friend, Dr. Leonard Berman, whom he hadn't seen in 63 years. By chance, Copley having relocated to Greensboro from Durham and Berman, having recently relocated from Florida, met when the latter came to Brown-Gardiner to fill a perscription. 

Brown-Gardiner is a vestige of the small-town, friendly atmosphere of the south of yesteryear. If you are a local, having breakfast or lunch here at least once is a must. Who knows? Maybe you'll see someone from your past. Order a classic-- like a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich and sweet tea!

            

Statue of Nathanael Greene in Downtown Greensboro

In the photo above, we see the sun lingering over the monument to General Nathanael Greene (1742- 1786). Greensboro is named in honor of General Greene, a self-taught Quaker ironmaster, who led the Patriot forces at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in the Revolutionary War. The American hero now stands in the center of a roundabout at the intersection of Greene and West McGee Streets.

The quote at the base of the statue reads, "...in the very name Greene are remembered all the virtues and talents which can illustrate the patriot, the statesman, and the military leader." Marquis de Lafayette

               

Guilford County Schools Science Fair 2009

The Four Seasons Town Centre was crowded on Wednesday, February 11th for the Guilford County Schools' Science Fair 2009. Trophy winning projects at the middle school level covered such topics as kudzu, making fuel from animal waste, safety of reusing water bottles, and minimizing heat loss with blankets for the homeless. The middle school receiving the most trophies and recognition at the district level was Aycock Middle School, where the 6th-8th grade Spanish Immersion and Science and Technology Magnet Programs are housed.

This photo was taken in the arena where awards were distributed. The actual projects filled the mall and the public was invited to view the projects.

            

O.Henry & Proximity Hotel Service with a Smile

Drivers for the O.Henry and Proximity Hotels are proof positive that Greensboro is a wonderful city because of its people. These chauffeurs get you from Point A to Point B promptly and safely and you won't even want to leave the car because of the good company.

Quaintance-Weaver is a community-service oriented company that started in Greensboro in 1988. In addition to the O.Henry and Proximity Hotels, Quaintance-Weaver owns several top-notch restaurants. The Q-W Companies pride themselves on being good money values, environmentally friendly, supporters of local artists, and great places to do business and to work. 

            

Center City Park in Downtown Greensboro

Center City Park opened at the corner of Elm Street and Friendly Avenue on December 1, 2006. The park has proven to be extremely popular with Greensboro residents, especially in the warmer months when people often eat lunch and chat with friends on the property. This clay bird sculpture is one of many fine pieces of artwork found in the park.  The angular orientation of the photo allows for the Greensboro Cultural Center on Davie Street to serve as a background. This bird is approximately 3 feet tall and the delight of small children who see eye to eye with this playful piece of sculpture.

            

Trinity AME Zion Church

The beginning of Trinity AME (African Methodist Episcopal)  Zion Church can be traced back to 1891 and a professor from Livingstone College, the Reverend William H. Goler. Although the church has changed locations and appearances over the years, it has continued to thrive for 118 years. Presently, it is located at 631 East Florida Street and is led by Rev. Dr. Frencher. The doctrine of this independent AME Church is fundamental and premillennial. If you follow the links, you will learn a great deal about this fine house of worship.

This is the church where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was scheduled to visit on April 4th, 1968. Instead of speaking here, Dr. King canceled his visit to Greensboro to remain in Memphis where he was assassinated on that day. 

If you are in Greensboro and reading this post before 11 am today (Sunday), you can listen to the sermon on WQMG-AM 1510. If you live in Greensboro, we encourage you to go see the church for yourself. 

             

Glass Valentine Hearts at Ellenburg & Shaffer

Happy Valentine's Day! We hope you have someone special this Valentine's Day and that you are able to enjoy the day together. To be sure, we'll be out looking for interesting pictures to share with you later in the month. Here we see some glass hearts hanging in the window at Ellenburg & Shaffer Glass Art Studio at 334 South Elm Street. For the glass collector on your list, Ellenburg & Shaffer has fabulous stained glass for sale. It is a treat to visit their store (and the other places downtown on Elm Street) even if you just want to have a look.

            

West Virginia Glass Vignette for Valentine's Day

Vintage West Virginia glass is widely available in Greensboro's antique stores. Most of the Fenton hobnail pieces in the photo are from Thrill of the Hunt (3122 Battleground Ave #B). For each holiday, we decorate our entrance hallway with a collection of vintage glass and arts and crafts items. We made the heart stopper and LOVE embellishment from polymer clay to fit with the Valentine's Day theme. Do you enjoy making holiday vignettes? Do you like antique West Virginia glass? Happy Valentine's Day, tomorrow. We hope you plan something special. 

            

Tea Time on State Street

Several businesses in Greensboro serve great tea. The Secret Tearoom at 412 State Street is no exception. This view from the front window is reminiscent of Savannah or Charleston. We just missed lunch by about 30 minutes and are anxious to get back for a visit inside. We've heard great things about the chef and that children love to have mother/daughter teas here! If you are looking for something special to do on Valentine's Day, perhaps it isn't too late to book something here.

             

Beaman Building-- Classic 1960's Architecture

The Beaman Building is located at the corner of Independence and Lawndale Drive, in the Kirkwood neighborhood. Built in 1964, the building exhibits classic 1960's architecture as evidenced by the turquoise façade, the flat roof, the long skinny windows, and the nearby carport. Not much is written about the Beaman Building and we couldn't find a good link. Hopefully, the building will be around for a long time so that we can continue to enjoy this treasure of yesteryear.

If you know about the building, how about posting a comment. We did find one woman who worked in the nearby Sears Building for 40+ years who says she remembers seeing this turquoise and orange brick building every day as she was leaving work.

Here is an assortment of items relevant to 1964, available at Amazon. They're just a click away from being yours!

            

Construction at Greensboro Country Club

Here is another one of our photos that could have qualified for a "guess where" or "guess what" photo. We found this geometric beauty on the Farm Course of the Greensboro Country Club. It looks like an Asian rice-paddy planting scene. If you've driven by the GCC golf course lately, you see tractors and heavy equipment roaming over the terrain. All the work and the six million dollar renovation for the golf course just off Horse Pen Creek and Carlson Dairy Roads will pay off as club members will have a redesigned course before you know it! Click here to read a recent News and Record article about the renovation.

The Golf Digest shown below is from March 1960. One of the cover stories is entitled "North Carolina Wonderland of Golf". To purchase the only copy at Amazon, click on the magazine cover.

            

Beef Burger Fast Foods-- A local splash of history and color

Perhaps you have passed by the colonial red and yellow A-framed business at 1040 West Lee Street, Beef Burger, and never noticed this colorful little blue corner on the east side of the building. This former Biff Burger franchise has been a local Greensboro eating establishment since 1961.

Click here to see the front, more recognizable, façade of Beef Burger and to learn more about this Greensboro institution from C. Catherman, self-proclaimed Biff-Burger fan and historian.

This picture would have made a great "guess where this is" page! Honestly, did you know before we told you?

              

Bennett College Pfeiffer Chapel

Happy Sunday! You don't need to wait for Sunday to see something happening at the Annie Merner Pfeiffer Chapel on the Bennett College campus. The chapel was built in 1941 and has been a central venue for memorable activities on campus. Perhaps one of the most memorable was February 11, 1958, the day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a talk entitled, "A Realistic Look at Race Relations." The setting is even more breathtaking in the spring and early summer when the grass is fresh and the trees have greened.

The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill has a postcard of Pfeiffer Chapel from the 1940's in its North Carolina collection.

            

Ornamental Cabbage

Garden planting time is just around the corner. Seeing this ornamental cabbage reminded us that we need to start thinking about gardening. The parks, green ways, and landscaping throughout the city is proof positive that Greensboro values its plants. With the brown and gray vistas of winter, this purple and green cabbage photographed at The Fresh Market on Lawndale Drive is a welcomed sight.

                

Kneaded Energy Smart Car on State Street

State Street is reminiscent of walking through a quaint community at the beach. Eclectic, local-proprietor shops abound. If you haven't walked State Street lately, you are missing something special. The last two times we've been there, this car has been parked on the 400 block. As it turns out, Kneaded Energy is located at 408 1/2 State Street. For now, we'll just have to sit back, enjoy our coffee from Carolina Coffee and Tea (400 State Street) while looking at this picture on the Smart Car! Happy Friday! Why don't you head out and see if you can spot the kneaded energy mobile--ette.

        

        

Rosa

On Saturday,  Greensboro Daily Photo was combing Greensboro for photos to use during African American history month, looking for nationally recognized sights as well as the more subtle recollections. At Sticks and Stones Eatery, we saw this tomato sauce can, with plants growing in it. Rosa…….

 

The name Rosa was first used in the 19^th century. When civil rights activist Rosa Parks was born in 1913, the name was near peak popularity. Perhaps the McCauley’s christened  their first born after a family friend; perhaps she reminded them of nature’s beautiful icon of love and affection, the rose. 

 

Rosa’s brother was called Sylvester, woods in Latin. Under the right conditions, flowers and woods put down roots and flourish. Indeed, Rosa flourished and became known as the mother of the Civil Rights Movement. Though naming baby girls Rosa has waned in popularity, the roots Rosa Parks established will thrive for generations. We encourage someone knowledgeable of Ms. Parks ties to Greensboro to post something in the comments!

 

             

Bennett College Historical Marker

Historical Marker J55, erected at the corner of Bennett and Market Streets in 1962, alerts motorists to the location of Bennett College just a few blocks away.

According to their website, 

"Bennett College for Women, located in Greensboro, NC, was founded in 1873 as a coeducational institution and in 1926 was reorganized as a college for women. A small, private, historically Black liberal arts, United Methodist Church-related institution, Bennett offers women an education conducive to excellence in scholarly pursuits; preparation for leadership roles in the workplace, society, and the world; and lifelong learning in a technologically advanced, complex global society."

            

International Civil Rights Museum

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

            

Lift Every Voice and Sing

This hauntingly beautiful mask (available at Lindley Park's fabulous homegrown eatery Sticks and Stones) inspired today's post.

In 1899, James Weldon Johnson, in collaboration with his brother John, wrote a song that is popularly titled, THE NEGRO NATIONAL ANTHEM. You may know the song by the first five words (lift every voice and sing) of the first verse... " Lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of Liberty; let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skies, let it resound loud as the rolling sea."

To be sure, looking at the above mask inspires singing and reflection. Not even the stones weighing the facemask down can stop the singing. If the piece hasn't already sold, we at Greensboro Daily Photo just may need to acquire it!

        

            

Remembering February One on 2/1

February One, a Greensboro event that sparked a national movement, is an important day in the history of civil rights. The monument above, erected on the campus of North Carolina A & T State University, recognizes the efforts of David Richmond; Franklin McCain; Ezell Blair, Jr. (Jibreel Khazan) and Joseph McNeil.  If you do not know what happened that day, the words on the monument above are a good introduction to the event. " These four A & T freshmen envisioned and carried out the lunch counter sit-in of February 1, 1960, in downtown Greensboro. Their courageous act against social injustice inspired similar protests across the nation and is remembered as a defining moment in the struggle for civil rights."  Many websites and books are available to explain the movement. A good place to start is the Documentary Film Study Guide by Rebecca Cerese and Diane Wright. 

            

Macy's Department Store and Friendly Center

Here we see a view from the escalator of Macy's Department Store in Friendly Center. Children love riding the escalator and feeling like they are in a big city. Seeing all the red boxes reminds us that Valentine's Day is just around the corner. 

Friendly Center has been a Greensboro shopping destination for over fifty years; however, Macy's is a relative newcomer to the shopping center. Before Macy's was Macy's, it was Hecht's, and before that, Thalhimer's. Thalhimer's, previously Ellis Stone,  moved from its downtown Elm Street location to Friendly Center in the 1950's.  The Greensboro News and Record has written an interesting article about Friendly Center's history here. 

Be sure to check back tomorrow. We are putting together pictures for African American History Month. Greensboro has a rich history relevant to the Civil Rights Movement. If you are an event organizer and have something you want us to try to cover for African American History Month, please send us an e-mail at [email protected]

            

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park on a Gray Winter Day

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

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

            

Living near Guilford Courthouse National Military Park @ Lincoln Green

Advertising in Greensboro can get very creative and whimsical! En route to photograph Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, we noticed this sign advertising apartments across from the park. The creation and placement of this sign is brilliant. Perched on the edge of a tree-lined ridge, the finches look so happy. Don't those cute yellow birds make you want to drop by and check out the LincolnGreen apartments? From the photo, you have no idea that the billboard is located on busy Battleground Avenue nestled between strip malls.  

We'll post on the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park soon-- keep stopping back.

            

                              

North Carolina Pottery

If you live in Greensboro and have ever put a shovel to soil, you know that our landscape is filled with CLAY. Given its abundance, Greensboro is steeped in the tradition of throwing clay into vessels. We have several local potters and pottery studios. Additionally, Jugtown and Seagrove are located a little over an hour south of Greensboro. In the photo above, you see one of the red glazed pieces made famous in the murder mystery novel, Uncommon Clay, written by North Carolina writer, Margaret Maron. If you are committed to the "buy local" movement or want to give a gift that represents our region, you can't go wrong purchasing North Carolina pottery (or books about NC pottery!). We use ours every day!

               

          

Lake Higgins

Lake Higgins, just north of Greensboro, is part of the Cape Fear River Basin. People in Greensboro, Guilford County, and the surrounding areas enjoy fishing and boating on Lake Higgins as well as following the extensive trail system. The Lake Higgins Environmental Education Center offers many educational programs as well as canoe, kayak, and rowboat rentals. We took this photo just before the sun dropped behind the spillway last Saturday afternoon. The winter skies have been very accommodating to photographers this year!

                                    

Brown Building on the UNCG Campus

Known as the Brown Building since 1960, the Music Building opened in 1925 on the campus of the University of North Carolina Greensboro. It served as the School of Music's home until 1999, when a new Music Building was dedicated on McIver Street. Recently, we found a post card with the above view of the original music building in the 1950's. The post card was written to a family in Daytona Beach, Florida, by a man named Bill. When the post card was written, UNCG was known as the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina, and only females attended, hence the use of the word "fems" below.

On January 26th (today's date) 1958, Bill wrote,

Hey--

Every day I go by this building it reminds me of my younger days before they made the practice rooms sound proof-- you could hear the fems trying to reach high C on our front porch on a warm spring night, boy the years do fly-- see you soon, Bill

What an opening sentence for a novel!  Bill, unless you make yourself known to us, we claim that line!

By the way, we tried our best to replicate the view found on the post card while photographing the building. After all, we aren't called Greensboro Daily Post Card!! Surprisingly, the building's façade hasn't changed! See a 1927 version of the Brown Building here.

Here are four relevant books...

                                      

First Baptist Church Greensboro

The First Baptist Church Greensboro is a landmark on the corner of Friendly Avenue and Tate Street. This church is a dynamic house of worship. People are always coming and going. Be it choir practice, handbell practice, Sunday services, preschool, mission work, exercise, Bible study, suppers, youth groups, Korean church services,  there is something for everybody. 

From the view above, First Baptist does not look that big. However, for those of us who travel Friendly Avenue, when you look through your rear view mirror, you see that the church appears to be three blocks long. 

If you attend First Baptist and want to share something special about the church, please post in the comment section (below). Also, if you know about its history, please provide some details! Many books about First Baptist Church are out of print. We did find two copies on Amazon of this one from 1926!

The History of the Baptists of Greensboro, N.C., With Particular Reference to the Work and Growth of the First Baptist Church, 1850-1926.

Greensboro Children's Museum

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

Sunset in Greensboro

The skies have been fabulous this winter and the sunset last weekend was breathtaking. This was taken downtown near the corner of S. Elm and Martin Luther King Drive. 

Let's see what this weekend will bring. If you are a local, we hope you get out to enjoy our fine city. If you are visiting from afar, please stop back and see what we uncover this weekend!

Higher Education Area Transit

Well, after a federal holiday, a little snow and a presidential inauguration, today is "schedule as usual" for most of the area's 60,000 plus college students. In this photo, you see a HIGHER EDUCATION AREA TRANSIT bus. HEAT began service on Tuesday, August 8, 2006, with special emphasis on providing transportation to the eight fine college and university campuses in Greensboro and Jamestown. If you live in Greensboro, likely, you can't help smiling when the vibrant, peppy HEAT bus drives by.  Parents and prospective students, HEAT is just one more student-friendly advantage to attending an institution of higher education in GREENSBORO! 

Bloggers, if you are still reading this message, we challenge you to stand up and assume each of the four poses modeled on the HEAT bus!

Snow and Ice Hit Piedmont Triad Area

Yesterday, morning temperatures hovered around freezing and the ground was dusted with a light snow. The above leaves and sweet gum balls are frozen in a thin sheet of ice. School was cancelled and children were able to stay home and watch the inauguration with their families. In the South, we talk about the possibility of a snow storm for days. By the time it arrives, our pantries are stocked and we are prepared.  Today, it is supposed to be sunny, but cold. Likely, we'll be back to business as usual. Thank you for stopping by Greensboro Daily Photo!

President Barack Obama

In the 2008 presidential election, North Carolina was a battleground state.  To garner votes, then-Senator Obama visited Greensboro three times (March 26, August 20, and September 27, 2008). In the end, with a difference of less than 20,000 votes, Barack Obama won North Carolina's 15 electorial votes.

Today, regardless of political affiliation, everyone in Greensboro is talking about the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Coffee shops, restaurants, and bars are showing the televised coverage. School students will watch the swearing in ceremony. At least one local book club is planning an inaugural luncheon. On Elm Street, it is as if you can hear music rising from the instruments in the above music store and the "Yes We Can" poster has come to life. 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Facing west,the bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (by Wilbur Lee Map, 1994) is located at the crossroads of South Elm Street and Martin Luther King Jr Drive. The plaque reads, "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , planned to speak at Trinity AME Zion Church in Greensboro (a few blocks from here) on April 4, 1968. He canceled his visit to Greensboro to remain in Memphis where he was assassinated on that day."

Lake Jeanette Independent Baptist Church

This humble little house of worship on North Church Street is a picture of the Old South, the Greensboro of yesteryear. As dogs bark outside the house next door, the wooden cross at the tip of the steeple beckons..... PRAY.  A simple, white, "no frills" structure, the Lake Jeanette Independent Baptist Church is located near a bait and tackle shop on what used to be a quiet, country road. The saying on the marquee at the edge of the lot changes weekly. On the cold, January night the picture was taken, it read, "Pray for our Country." 

Painted Person Spotted in Front of Browsery on Elm St.

Yes this photo was taken a couple of summers ago. However, what better way to be transported from the heart of winter than to reflect on warmer times! Here we see a man advertising his painted body show in front of the Browsery Antique and Book Store on South Elm Street. While the painted man is long gone, Charles and Ben are still working hard at the Browsery, eager to share with you their vast knowledge of books, glassware, antiques and all things related to Greensboro.

UNCG's Little Log Cabin

.

Before we tell you where this little log cabin is located, guess!......... If you know the answer, you have probably been living in Greensboro for a while. If you know the history of this structure, you are a local! 

The answer: In the 1930's, the log cabin was built with federal monies on the campus of the  University of North Carolina Greensboro.   It was used for recreational offices and was located near the athletic fields on Walker Avenue. Later, it became the headquarters of the chief of campus police. In the early 1990's, the cabin was moved 1/2 mile west on Walker Avenue to make room for UNCG's new recreation center. Today, the log house is a private residence. 

Allen W. Trelease, a UNCG professor emeritus in History, mentions the log cabin in his  comprehensive, 680 page history of the university. Check out his book, Making North Carolina Literate.

Southern Marker into Downtown Greensboro

At the corner of South Elm and Lee Streets, you will find the above piece of sculpture. Two very active Greensboro residents,  Ricki and Sidney Gray, spotted this air compressor (from a naval ship) languishing on a lot and, together with the owner, recommissioned it to become "Planet Earth." Eventually, they would like to find a metal sculptor to weld the words, "Old Greensborough" on top of this, soon to become, Greensboro landmark.

Tranquilities Gift Shop

Tranquilities Gift Shop is located on the corner of Chapman and Spring Garden Streets in what was formerly a Pure Gas Station. The A-line roof, painted brick, and striped awning, give the building a cottage look. If you visit this locally-owned, one-of-a-kind store, be sure to stop by the bathroom where photos from yesteryear are displayed. Plenty of off-street parking, a coffee shop across the street, a nice restaurant, music store and bakery near by. If you haven't already, venture out, just west of UNCG campus, and discover some neat stores.

Cultural Arts District (Promenade)

This tree-lined promenade is found in front of of the Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street. Even on a gray winter day, walking through the cultural arts district is inspiring. Russian writer Anton Chekhov strolled along Yalta's promenade people watching and getting ideas for his fiction. Likely, Greensboro author O. Henry spent time walking along our tree lined streets.

Guilford College

Classes start up again at Guilford College. The fourth oldest degree-granting institution in North Carolina, Guilford College was founded in 1837 by The Society of Friends (Quakers). This liberal arts college is listed in Colleges That Change Lives and is one of the few college campuses in the nation listed as a National Historic District.