Traffic Gridlock on Battleground

As we sit in Greensboro's version of gridlock traffic where Battleground intersects Holden Road, Cone Boulevard and Benjamin Parkway, a Saturday letter to local paper comes to mind. Marilyn Trivett writes about the memories of her 81-year-old Aunt Libby. Aunt Libby recounts catching a trolley into downtown Greensboro from old Red Road, the road's name before it became sprawling West Wendover. She tells niece Marilyn about the building on Elm Street where Natty Greene's Pub is now located. Decades ago, it was a "beer hall" where children could order hot dogs and hamburgers from a window to the street, but only wonder about the appearance of the building's interior. Our friend Alice tells similar stories of catching the trolley and heading east to the Bessemer and East Wendover (Old Burlington Road) area after shopping in town with her dad. 

Somehow, it sounds much more charming to be riding a trolley to and from town, with your fate in the hands of the able conductor, than it does to be beating the clock, gridlocked, with the traffic light seemingly interminably red! 

Marilyn, we hope you will listen to as many stories of yesteryear as Aunt Libby cares to tell and that you continue to share them with the rest of us. The 20th century is starting to feel like a century ago! 

Visit Monochrome Weekly for more black and white photography-- a real holdover from yesteryear!

Comments

[Aileni]

Those were the days... and they talk of progress.

[Regina]

Nice shot! Same traffic here.

[Calico Crazy]

I lost both my grandparents in the last 20 months and I miss all the stories. I like the detail in this photo, if not what it represents.

[Carver]

It's funny how monochrome gives such a timeless feel to some shots. Especially since you can't see many of the cars as individuals in a gridlock. I was thinking how this shot could almost be from the 80s or 90s or 2000s, hard to tell which.

Intersting story about the trolly. I wish all of our communities had invested in more public transport instead of ending up with less in some cases. The days of almost every adult having a car seem to be numbered for many reasons. I'm hoping the triangle railway which has been planned for a long time becomes a reality where I live.

[Daryl]

Wonderful slice of life shot ... involving in a good way

[Kilauea Poetry]

I'd liked to imagine Aunt Libby's depiction! "The beer hall, ordering hot dogs & hamburgers from a window to the street"-fantastic! This is definently a gridlock!