Greensboro Daily Photo

Percy Inn: Dead and Breakfast

From ghoulies and ghosties and long leggety beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord deliver us*...from 703 Percy Street. This house in historic Aycock District is one of Greensboro's many residences where Halloween is taken seriously.  Because Halloween is on a Monday this year, most of our community events have come and gone. Since tomorrow is a school & work day, it is anticipated that crowds will be light and that the evening will come to a close rather early. Even the infamous Halloween party on Franklin Street in Chapel HIll is expecting significantly less than their record 80,000 visitor crowd. Locally, Lake Jeanette, The Aycock Historic District, Sunset Hills, Westerwood, Westridge and New Irving Park are just a few of the many areas that get inundated with trick-or-treaters from all over. If you live in one of those neighborhoods, you know what to expect.

Nationally, one of the scariest Halloweens came in 1938 when Orson Welles presented "The War of the Worlds" on the radio; listeners were terrified. If you are home alone tonight, between trick-or-treaters, you can read the H.G. Welles script here or listen to free audio here.  If you are participating in trick-or-treating, we suggest reading the safety tips published by Greensboro's FIRE DEPARTMENT.  

Finally, if you came here today to see the Ai Cemetery, stop back tomorrow. We forgot that Percy Street was already in the hopper.  

 *Scottish saying

If you need some creepy music to play when trick-or-treaters come to your door, click on the you tube video below.

 

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. 

Masquerade Ball

The Weatherspoon Art Museum was wall-to-wall people and had so much positive energy last night at their event, Masquerade. The evening was filled with makeup artists, hair stylists, photographers, and fun. Masquerade was held in conjunction with the exhibit entitled, "Persona: A Body in Parts" that centered around the theme of multiple representations of the self. As we walked through the gallery, a docent accompanied us explaining the artistic process and thought behind each piece. The exhibit was the perfect backdrop for this Halloween weekend event where people dressed in masks, costumes, and face paint.

The Membership Committee of the Weatherspoon held the event in an effort to gain new members. We don't know how many people actually joined tonight but, surely, talk of this event will ripple through the community and bring the museum even more visibility-- maybe even members. From La Calavera Catrina to a life-sized, walking Lisa Frank trapper keeper, creativity abounded. A good time was had by all. Masks and hats off to Greensboro for another fun, FREE, event. Wouldn't it be great for the Weatherspoon to make this an annual event.

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.

Gearing Up for Halloween at Weatherspoon Gallery

From the Claribel and Etta Cone Collection to the Dillard Collection of Art on Paper and everything in between, The Weatherspoon Art Gallery on the UNCG campus has a wealth of fabulous art. Currently, the membership committee is making a concerted effort to attract new members from a variety of diverse demographics. To this end, on Friday evening, from 7-10 pm, they are sponsoring an event entitled, "Masquerade." The evening will include: fun, food, drink, photography, and makeup. If you are so inclined, they will transform your look-- just in time for Halloween.  The event is free to the public with a cash bar. It is held in conjunction with the exhibit, "Persona: A Body in Parts." We think the above photo is from that exhibit; at any rate, the photo exemplifies the fact that in addition to the excellent permanent collections, the Weatherspoon has an outstanding exhibition program. You can vote YES tomorrow by joining the Weatherspoon. 

Perhaps the above quintet will inspire you to step out of your element and sport a unique look. Our personal favorite is the second from the right-- we're dubbing him/her the "Cousin It" look.

O is for O. Henry

O. Henry, born William Sydney Porter, was an extraordinary short story writer from Greensboro. Born here in 1862, he lived, was educated, attended church, and worked in Guilford County. As a child, he spent a great deal of time reading and when he was older, he worked at a local drug store on Elm Street. At age 20, with his mother long deceased and his health poor, William Sydney Porter moved to Texas hoping to find a climate more agreeable to his chronic cough. In 1899, having authored under many pseudonyms, he settled on O. Henry.

Locally, O. Henry comes to life once a year when the Greensboro Historical Museum presents several evenings of his plays in an event called  5 by O. Henry. The evening is quite an event as an actor plays the role of O. Henry, ambling through the audience with other characters in period costumes and leading the audience in songs from O. Henry's era. The above statue of O. Henry (as a young boy) is found on the grounds of the Historical Museum, the very place where you can find many exhibits relevant to the life of Greensboro's best-known author, including an exhibit replicating his aunt's elementary school which he attended (teachers' pamphlet here).

In his mere 48 years on earth, O. Henry wrote prolifically. In the New York years alone, he wrote 381 short stories (reference). On GDP, we have already featured the O. Henry open book monument (here); his historic marker (here); the cemetery where his family is buried (here); the drug store where he worked (here); and the hotel named for him (here). 

It is ABC Wednesday and for Round 9, we're featuring great people of Greensboro, past and present. Today it is O....... for O. Henry.

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.

Southern Railway Car in Gibsonville

Returning from Burlington yesterday, we drove through downtown Gibsonville, a community of approximately 6,000 people located in the easternmost part of Guilford County. Named in honor of Joseph Gibson, Gibsonville was incorporated in 1871; however, the Gibsonville  Post Office opened sixteen years earlier in 1855. Founding fathers laid the boundaries of the town in both Guilford and Alamance Counties, which has been quite a challenge with respect to governance. In 1971, 100 years after its incorporation, Melvin O. Wyrick published a History of Gibsonville, excerpts of which city officials have posted (here).

Southern Railway can trace its roots, and the beginning of its many iterations, to the 1830's. The bright red, vintage Southern Railway car, parked downtown, is an iconic memory of Gibsonville's booming rail history. It is located beside the tracks that parallel to E. Railroad Avenue, across from the former Cone Mills Minneola Textile Mill. Gibsonville saw extensive rail traffic in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the flurry of commerce surrounding the textile mill.

A little bit of downtown Gibsonville is peeking out on the left of the photo.  If you want to see more of the historic community and experience Gibsonville's southern charm, visit their annual Christmas parade-- to be held at 2pm on Saturday December 10th. We're placing an order for snow flurries to accompany the parade!

 

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.

PTI Airport at Night

Piedmont Triad International (PTI) Airport is beautiful at night, especially in the rain. Here is a picture of the Fed Ex side of the airport just after a soaking rain when the asphalt took on the magical reflective quality of a lake. PTI is located eight miles west of Greensboro. The landing field is called Lindley Field, named for the Lindley family who owned it prior to 1927. It was the second official airmail route in the USA. Another great piece of PTI (not so trivial) trivia is the fact that Charles Lindberg brought the "Spirit of St. Louis" here in 1927. This summer, when we interviewed Greensboro lawyer Henry Isaacson, Chairman of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority, he told us how much he enjoyed his involvement with the airport. We're betting he is an arsenal of PTI trivia.

Today, we're bringing you a David- Letterman-style top ten list. The top ten busiest domestic routes out of Greensboro's PTI are #10... Washington-Reagan, DC; #9 Washington-Dulles, DC; #8 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX; #7 Detroit, MI; #6 Newark, NJ; #5 Chicago O'Hare, IL; #4 New York- LaGuardia, NY; #3 Philadelphia, PA; #2 Charlotte, NC;..... #1....ta...da...Atlanta, GA (reference). 

This is our contribution to Weekend Reflections.

The Giving Tree

The persimmon tree is a member of the genus Diospyros... meaning the fruit of the gods. The astringent version of the persimmon is often found growing wild in North Carolina. The actual word "persimmon" is derived from a Native American word meaning "a dry fruit." Persimmon trees like to have their space and are usually seen in open fields. We have seen several persimmon trees around northwest Guilford County. The above stub of a persimmon tree reminds us of Shel Silverstein's poem, The Giving Tree.

Once, in Greensboro, there was a young persimmon tree. The persimmon tree was planted by a man, Mr. Greensboro Daily Photo. He loved this tree; visited the tree; he watered the tree, day in and day out-- from the first day of spring, through summer, into autumn. On a moonlight night, a buck walked past and decided to tear the tree down to a stub. He rubbed against the tree, stripped the bark, tore the top off and left it on the ground. The man is still very upset and has to decide what to plant in the space as it is very open and vulnerable to the tenacious, ruminant mammals. For now, he has this stub to look at to remind him that man may know how to fly to the moon but he just may not be able to outsmart the local deer.

This is our contribution to Skywatch Friday. 

 

Trumpet Vine on Elm St.

A couple of weekends ago, we were walking along Elm Street downtown and saw this vine on the building by Fordham Drugs, south of the railroad tracks. The color of the leaves ranged from light green to almost black. As seen in this photo, the flowers are bright and cheerful. They are the delight of hummingbirds and bees. At the leftmost tip of the bottom pod, you can see a bee. Some gardeners like trumpet vines because they are hardy and have a long season for flowering; however, many people consider them invasive. The vines can do great damage to buildings as the tendrils and roots cling to and crack mortar as they grow.

The vine, originally from Asia, became popular in Europe in the 17th century and has been growing with wild abandon ever since. We hope you get out and enjoy some fall displays before the season is swiftly behind us. Have a great Thursday everybody.

N is for Nussbaum, Victor Nussbaum Jr.

Victor Nussbaum (1920-2001), originally from Indiana, was a Greensboro resident for the last fifty years of his life. Before coming to North Carolina, he graduated from the Wharton School of business, served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, and graduated from the Harvard Business Executives Program. Southern Foods, a Greensboro institution, was founded by Victor Nussbaum, Jr. in 1960. Previously, in 1954, he started the precursor business, with a used pick-up truck, driver, an office helper, 8 customers and a vision. He went door to door encouraging people to purchase food from his truck. Mr. Nussbaum became known for fresh food at competitive prices. Local restaurants quickly came on board as customers. His hand-cut meats and fresh, ground beef became the hallmark of Southern Foods. His truck became a fleet.

Vic Nussbaum Jr. was involved in local government serving on City Council for two years, as Mayor Pro Tem for six, and as Mayor from 1987-1993. He was known as a "tireless advocate for those less fortunate." Greensboro's Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship was named in his honor. The Community Foundation of Greensboro gave housing Greensboro a $15,000 grant to repair a home for a Greensboro resident in need. Through serving on several boards of directors and his work for St. Pious X Catholic Church, Mr. Nussbaum's name is associated not only with quality food but also with tireless civic involvement. In the above photo, we see vans from Southern Foods recharging at the bays on Old Battleground, waiting patiently for a new work day to begin.

It is ABC Wednesday and "N" is for Nussbaum, Vic Nussbaum. (See our previous ABC entries here).

Occupy Greensboro

Occupy Greensboro, an offshoot of Occupy Wall Street, held a demonstration march through downtown Greensboro this weekend. Organizers met at different locations including UNCG and Glenwood Coffee and Books. The local event was part of a 1,200+ city effort to raise awareness about the economic situation today. It is estimated that about 700 people marched locally. 

The above photo was taken on Elm Street in front of the International Civil Rights Museum. We like the way you can see the diversity of the two sides of the entrance: to the left, the sleek metal façade; to the right, the ubiquitous red and white striped awning of the F.W. Woolworth Company. The march continued up Elm Street, ending at Festival Park near the YWCA parking lot where supporters camped. Between this event and the 40,000 plus people in town for NC A&T's Homecoming, and President Obama's impending arrival, phone communication came to a virtual stand still on Saturday. Given all the extra activity in Greensboro this weekend, we're betting the police were relieved at how well-mannered people were.

President Obama Comes to Greensboro

President Obama is in Greensboro today. The above 2008 photo shows a student on Tate Street in front of New York Pizza near UNCG's campus and just west of Greensboro College. The student had just come from hearing the then-campaigning Obama deliver a speech downtown, outside, and to our citizens-at-large. Today, President Obama will speak by invitation only at the Jamestown campus of GTCC. We're hoping our recently-featured Dr. Kinard will be in attendance. Not only is his office on the Jamestown campus but, previously, he was a broadcast journalist. If anyone deserves an opportunity to hear the President, it is Dr. Kinard. As a matter of fact, if you click back through to his photo (here), Dr. Kinard is looking rather presidential himself!

The student in the above photo, who was texting his friends about the event, also got to attend President Obama's inauguration. Maybe someday, at Greensboro Daily Photo, we will be fortunate enough to attend some of these events. If only City Daily Photo could generate press credentials! Seriously though, if you get to hear President Obama speak in while he is in North Carolina please let us know.

New Millennium & Temple Emanuel

Today, we bring you not one but TWO religious offerings. Originally, we stopped to read Temple Emanuel's banner advertising today's Jewish Festival. However, while standing on the Fisher Park property of Temple Emanuel, near the First Presbyterian Church, we noticed a service concluding at the church across the street. The New Millennium Christian Center, located at 424 Fisher Park Circle, has recently opened in this neighborhood. The New Millennium congregation seems very involved in helping the local community. They are having a caregiver workshop today. Also, they are also very generous with providing clothing and help for the needy. From the photo, you can tell the church has a intergenerational congregation.

Temple Emanuel is having a Jewish Festival today from 11-5 pm at their 1129 Jefferson Road facility. The festival will offer a wide array of food, music, singing, and dancing. They will even have Jewish Folk and Bluegrass. Biblical characters will come to life, recreating Biblical life from 5000 years ago. There is a replica of the Kotel (Western Wall). Prayers that are written and left at this makeshift wall will be collected and taken to the real wall in Israel. Don't be shocked if you see Moses, Joseph, or King David walking along Jefferson Road. 

NC A&T Homecoming 2011

This weekend is homecoming for North Carolina A&T State University and at least 40,000 people are participating in this much-anticipated annual event. North Carolina has eleven historically-black colleges and universities (HCBU) and NC A&T, with over 10,000 students enrolled, is the largest in North Carolina. NC A&T was established in 1891 with the mission of helping African-Americans prepare for careers in science and engineering. In its 120 year history, this institution of higher education has amassed an impressive list of alumni, many of whom are recognized internationally in their respective fields. The University is credited with playing a major role in the Civil Rights Movement. 

This weekend's homecoming activities include: bowling and golf tournaments; a conference and meeting; an alum scholarship game; alumni reunions, dances, dinners, church homecomings, a homecoming parade, tailgating parties, countless student events, and a football game. The above photo, taken on Elm Street early yesterday evening exemplifies the mood of the crowd: upbeat, enthusiastic, personable, and thrilled to be part of this special event.

For a list of HBCU homecoming events around the nation, visit here. To learn more about HBCU's in general visit here. Seeing the reflection of the former Kress Department Store in the windows above makes it possible for us to participate in Weekend Reflection which catapults this photo of Aggie Pride into the international arena! Go Aggies!

A Peek at Fall

From the parking lot in front of Barnes & Noble at Friendly Center, we snapped this photo of the O. Henry Hotel. Leaves have started to turn colors and should be at peek within the week in Greensboro. The red brick of the hotel looks majestic surrounded by fall foliage. While the original O.Henry Hotel (built in 1919) was torn down years ago, this 1998 iteration tries hard to provide guests with old-world charm. The O.Henry is committed to being as local and "in and of Greensboro" as possible. On the website, Dennis Quantance, says that our city is about: higher education; culture-- especially a great literary tradition; cooperation and collaboration between industry, government, and the community at large; its natural and man made beauty; and the interface between tradition and innovation. 

Here is a photo of the hotel's entrance when we were en route for tea. We hope to get by the Wizzard of Oz tea to be held there on October 23rd. We're sharing this with Skywatch Friday and then heading out to find more photos of fall's splendor.

Woolly Worm Time in North Carolina 2011

Today, we bring you what may become an annual Greensboro woolly worm photo. Pyrrharctia isabella, or the banded woolly bear, is the larval stage of a moth that will winter over as a caterpillar. The furlike setae makes them resemble teddy bears and hide all of their segments and legs. Some people believe the more fuzzy black you see, the harsher the the winter will be. In reality, as the larvae mature, the black band decreases and the brown increases. In winter, the caterpillars freeze bit by bit except for their innermost cells. They can survive even Arctic temperatures as low as minus 90F. This photo of a wooly worm was taken one year to the day after the one we captured a year ago (Here). Although published later, both were taken on October 1st. 

North Carolina is one of many states with a woolly worm contest. The 34th annual Woolly Worm Festival will be held in Banner Elk this Saturday and Sunday. This proves to be a special year because it is the 100th anniversary of Avery County, NC. (Learn more here). Traditional music and dancing will surely be great there during the festival. However, we may have to settle for donning black and brown and wandering around Greensboro this weekend. 

Maybe you can have your own impromptu woolly worm race in your neighborhood. Otherwise, search GoTriad online (here) to find something that meets your interest this weekend. 

 

 

M is for Melvin, Jim Melvin

What better person than Jim Melvin to feature the day after Greensboro's primary election for mayor and city council representatives. Melvin holds the distinction of having been the longest-serving mayor in Greensboro's history (1971-1981). In addition to his elected positions, he has been involved in many ventures that have improved Greensboro: the new baseball stadium, The Elon Law School and Center City Park, to name a few. Melvin, a retired banker, has quite a talent for securing funding. At present, he uses this talent daily as CEO and President of the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation. Here we see a photo of him standing in the boardroom with the spirit of Mr. Bryan ever present in the portrait just beyond the glass. 

Mr. Melvin is one of twenty seven people featured in the book, Greensboro 27, written thirty five years ago (in 1976) by Abe Jones, Jr. We love the opening quote in Melvin's chapter. "I'm about as local as an individual can be." Jones goes on to tell us that Melvin was born in a local hospital and grew up on Asheboro Street and Alamance Church Road. Melvin also says, "(m)y life has been downright unexciting." Well, he may not find his life exciting but he has made Greensboro a lot more exciting for the rest of us! He exudes passion for making Greensboro a better place in everything he does! Today is ABC Wednesday and "M" is for Melvin, E.S. (Jim) Melvin. 

See our previous entries here.

 

VOTE, VOTE, VOTE-- Polls Open Today for Primary Election

Come one, come all, the polls are open for the primary election. Greensboro votes today to see which candidates will earn a spot on the upcoming ballot. Several city council seats available in this municipal election, as is the position for mayor. The above photo shows people en route to vote at the Courthouse on Saturday. Candidate-at-large Marikay Abuzuaiter is the person campaigning on the left. We didn't get the name of the man to the right; however, both seemed personable and sincere. The nice aspect of the municipal elections is that partisanship and the democrat/republican dichotomy is kept to a minimum.

We were one of 1,744 people who voted early this year. If the weather person is correct, Saturday was much nicer weather for voting. However, take the attitude of one NYC post office and tell yourself, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays [this voter] from the swift completion of [voting] (read more here; loosely derived from Herodotus). Just within the past month, women in Saudia Arabia were given the right to vote. Regardless of whether you are male or female, consider it your civic duty to vote.

To help you make your decision, Greensboro 101 has a list of candidates (here). 

Shall We Dance?

This larger than life statue of Renoir's dancers greets you on Main Street in Graham. The couple is part of an exhibit of J. Seward Johnson's lifelike figures brought to the area by the Alamance County Arts Council.  The exhibit is called Beyond the Frame: Impressionism Revisited. Johnson's three-dimensional interpretation is exacting, right down to facial expressions and the color of fabric. The people are frozen in poses that look as if they have stepped right out of impressionist paintings. For the backs of figures, Johnson had to improvise, allowing him a chance to sneak in a little humor; for example, if you look around back of Oriental Fan (2003), you will notice the woman modeled after Monet's "La Japonaise" (1876) is barefoot! Johnson's cast metal figures are colorized with mixture of automotive paint and wax that holds up well to the elements. Some of the sculptures are featured in rooms inside the museum; others are outside on the grounds. 

The yellow house in the background is the arts council's building. Some of the sculptures are inside so you will want to be sure to visit when the museum is open. The exhibit will be on display until October 31 and it is FREE. Of course donations are greatly appreciated. The 30 minute drive to Graham (Exit 147, Main St.) from Greensboro is well worth your time.

R.I.P. Steve Jobs

This Sunday, in remembrance of Steve Jobs, let us all pause for a few moments of silence ...........

The above photo was taken outside the Apple Store in Friendly Center last night, at closing time. The store provided post it notes and Sharpies; employees and customers wrote messages. A few people brought bouquets. Several people brought fresh apples; many stopped by to take pictures. The notes were touching. One was a heart with a bite out of it. Also memorable is the Apple logo with the bite transformed into a silhouette of Jobs. The genius behind that logo is a 19 year old guy from Hong Kong.

From the aesthetic to the functionality to the transformative nature of the Apple products, Jobs helped transform the way we interact with technology. He taught us that computers are bicycles for the mind. Jobs learned at a very early age that life is short and precious. We're glad to have an Apple Store in Greensboro and equally glad that Jobs is being remembered by patrons. Have a great Sunday dear readers.

The Art Shop

The Art Shop is located in the Pomona Park neighborhood we've been featuring this week on Greensboro Daily Photo. The present location on West Market Street is near where the Boar and Castle Drive In Restaurant used to be and near John Van Lindley's Pomona Nurseries of yesteryear. The Art Shop has been in business since 1899. Perhaps Mr. Lindley himself used this shop!  At 112 years old, The Art Shop has been serving Greensboro families' fine art needs for generations. The art shop has a national reputation for retail excellence.

The above painting in the window is an original; Garnet, painted by figurative artist Richard Johnson. Knowing that this goddess of fruit is hanging in the Pomona neighborhood, the old stomping grounds of one of Greensboro's most famous fruit tree specialists, is so fitting. Garnet, the Pomona of Pomona, has a bountiful harvest of fruit in her hands. Let's hope she finds a new home-- nearby.

We're sharing Garnet with our friends at Weekend Reflections, where a little reflection draws a big applause!

To Pilot Mountain and Beyond

From First Friday downtown to the Fall Festival at Bur-Mil Park on Saturday to Sunday's Italian Festival in Festival Park, Greensboro is packed with things to do this weekend. However, the mountains are also calling. From now until the end of October, it is possible to see peak leaves somewhere in North Carolina. You just have to find the right elevation.

The above photo of the iconic Pilot Mountain, just north of Winston-Salem, was taken last year later in the season. Pilot Mountain is a geological landmark that rises 1,400 above sea level and is the centerpiece of Pilot Mountain State Park. If you like the outdoors, Pilot Mountain is non-stop fun. Nearby Mt. Airy was the inspiration for Sheriff Andy Griffith's TV show about Mayberry. It is a quintessential small North Carolina town of yesteryear with 21st century updates.

Consider making a day trip from Greensboro to the mountains soon as this year is supposed to be good for fall foliage. We hope that you have a wonderful weekend; you are healthy and happy and, at some point, you visit Pilot Mountain, Mt. Airy, and beyond. (We're sharing this post with Skywatch Friday).

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.

L is for Lindley, John Van Lindley

John Van Lindley (1838-1919) was a Greensboro Quaker, Civil War soldier, civic-minded horticulturalist and pomologist.  Of English ancestry, Lindley was known as a leader among the "progressive and public-spirited men of the Piedmont. While his financial interests and business successes were many (including owning Pomona Terra Cotta Works), maintaining and working in his nurseries was always Lindley's first love. The Pomona Nurseries alone consisted of 900 acres and 11 greenhouses in Guilford County. Lindley also had a 350 acre nursery in Kernersville. The nationally-involved horticulturalist also owned nurseries in Southern Pines. George A. Grimsley described Mr. Lindley in the following manner: "Withal he is quiet and unassuming, prompt and careful; indeed, he attributes his success in life to his careful attention to every detail of his varied business, and he finds great gratification in the fact that he has been able to promote the progress and welfare of that section of the country in which he lives as well as the State at large." Quote found in In the second volume of the Biographical history of North Carolina by Samuel A'Court Ashe.

Many public areas in Greensboro and Guilford County are located on land donated to the city by the Lindley family and still bear the Lindley name: Lindley Park (which contains Greensboro's Arboretum), Lindley Pool, the Lindley Park neighborhood, PTI's Lindley Field and, the above-photographed Lindley Elementary (established 1928). Today, we celebrate ABC Wednesday's "L" alphabet day with John Van Lindley, who helped keep the "green" in Greensboro. (See A-K here). Read more on Lindley here. We wish we had a photo to post but there isn't even a Wikipedia entry on this man who features so prominently in the history of our community! The one photo we found is in a pdf file in Ashe's book (volume 2).

Signs of Fall: Seed Pods and Boxelder Bugs

In addition to football, another sign of fall is scattering bugs and seed pods. Seed pods burst open to begin their journey across the landscape while bugs scatter to seek refuge from the impending cold. Above, you see boxelder bugs clustered in these pods, in transition from their habitat in male boxelder, maple, and ash trees. These orange and black beetle specimens are hoping for a warm southern or western exposure window in a house to bask in the sun. Only the mature bugs will survive through the winter. For the most part, they are harmless to plants and people-- except for a little orange stain left behind and their appetite for eating seeds. We found these specimens on Fairmont Street during the Westerwood Art and Sole Walk this past weekend. While harmless and non-toxic, if a colony picks your home as the host house, you will know it as where there is one, likely there are hundreds.

Have you taken a nature walk yet this fall-- one where you take time to stop and look on the ground or on the undersides of plants? Greensboro's greenway and miles and miles of trails are a great place to start. Here is a website we like when planning a nature walk with children..... or grown-ups. Phones, headphones, texting?  No thank you. Binoculars, baggies, digital camera, walking stick, yes please! Here is one of our favorite finds from last year. 

Just in........ reader C Bond tells us these are actually milkweed bugs. They look so much like boxelders. Glad to have an entomologist in our readership!

Fall is For Football..... and the Grimsley/Page Game

Fall is the season of football, from high school to college to the pro games, most Americans have vivid memories of attending and watching football in the fall. Football transitions us from hot sunny days, where one gets a stadium sunburn, to chilly days where plaid woolen blankets and hot chocolate are about the only thing keeping spectators in the stands. In Greensboro, this past Friday's fall weather was just perfect for the annual Page/Grimsley game, held at Jamieson Stadium. Page and Grimsley are arch rivals and while in some sports (like ladies' varsity volleyball) Grimsley dominates, for sure, Page dominates in football.

The 54-game rivalry found Page victorious Friday. It was the fifth year in a row for the proud Pirates. Grimsley blue was dominated by Pirate red every step of the way right down to the 49-0 final score (read more here). On both sides of the stadium, the crowd was well behaved and school spirit was mighty strong. Here's to fall football, healthy rivalries, gracious winners, gracious losers and respectful fans. Regardless of which of our 17 high schools with foodball teams* wins at the local level, let's hope that Greensboro is well represented in the state playoffs so we can all cheer for our district. Happy Monday, everyone; happy fall football, aficionados. 

*(Guilford County has so many special programs, we hope our count of 17 is accurate. If not, please let us know and we'll come back in and correct the number).

Interfaith Altar

We stumbled upon this Interfaith Altar at the Art & Sole Walking Tour of Westerwood yesterday, at the home of local artist Kathy Clark. The lovely prints on the wall are a small sample of Kathy's art and her black and white pieces frame the colorful, candlelit display nicely. Kathy assembled the altar in remembrance of souls departed. The photo in the center is of her grandparents. The poster under the star was from the memorial service of local friend Timothy LaFollette who died with ALS about a month ago. The box at the feet of the Statue of Mary are the cremains of her beloved cat. From Hindu's Shiva to the Virgin Mary to the Day of the Dead skeletons, there is something for everyone at this altar. Kathy is keeping the Virgin Mary until its owner gets settled in her home in Los Angeles, at which time, the statue will get wrapped up and sent west to be reunited with its owner. 

Hearing the stories of the artists of Westerwood and seeing their stunning artwork was a great way to spend the day yesterday. Today, we take pause to quietly nurture the spiritual self. We offer this view, serendipitously stumbled upon yesterday, for our Sacred Sunday series. Among other things, we are thankful for the wonderful interaction with the 17 artists, especially Kathy, on yesterday's art tour. Do you have a special corner in your house, a place to remember loved ones, a place to reflect on your belief system? If so, what does it look like? What would it look like?

 

October 1: Mystery Objects at City Daily Photo Sites

Today's first-of-the-month theme for the city daily photo community is "mystery object." Our mystery object was found on Elm Street last week. It is a photo gliceé,  submerged under water in what looks like a gallon pickle jar; reminiscent of what you would see at the house of horrors at a carnival. This entrapped photo has been underwater since July 2009 for the purpose of showing the archival qualities of the gliceé process.

William Heroy is the Greensboro photographer and restoration specialist who has this display in his store front downtown. We originally took the photo for Skywatch Friday as that square of blue hovering at the top is actually a slice of sky. Since Friday is over, but there IS a reflection, we get to double dip (pun intended) and also offer this "mystery object" up for Weekend Reflections. See what we meant when we said the memes can do wonders for keeping your perspective fresh. Had we not been on the lookout for a Skywatch/Weekend Reflection/City Daily Photo themed photo, the above scene would have passed us by. Maybe Mr. Heroy will get a FLOOD of requests for this technique for Halloween.

If you want more of the City Daily Photo theme.... Click here to view thumbnails for all participants