Greensboro Daily Photo

Shotgun House

We're back in McAdoo Heights today to show you a little piece of history. The above home, located at 1918 Golden Gate Drive is significant because, it is said to be the last remaining shotgun house in all of Greensboro that is still used as a house (reference).  This red shingled shotgun, with the white addition in the front, perched above a cement retaining wall, is easily unnoticed as one drives down Golden Gate Drive. 

Shotgun houses were the most popular type of house in the southern states of the USA from the time of the Civil War until the 1920's. Shotgun houses are houses that are usually 12' or less wide and the rooms are built one behind the other without and hallway. Typically, you go from the front porch to the living room to a bedroom (or two) to a back room/kitchen to the back porch.*  They were called shotgun houses because if you fired a gun through the front door, the bullet would go all the way out the back door without hitting anything. This once prevalent model of housing fell out of favor in the 1940's, and, after WWII, was considered substandard. In Greensboro, many houses of this style were torn down during the redevelopment of east Greensboro in the 1960's (reference). 

With that addition in front, it looks like the above home has changed its orientation from front to back to side to side. Shotgun houses are efficient because no space is wasted on hallways; however, they are pretty inconvenient when someone has to walk through your bedroom in the middle of the night to get to the bathroom. Being the last of something, we think the neighborhood (or the city..... or HGTV..) should treat this 644 square foot,  two-bedroom, 1935 home to a restoration-makeover..... landscape and all. It is part of our mill town's history.

 

*reference.... Perhaps the most famous person to have been born in one was Elvis Presley.

 

M is for McAdoo Heights

McAdoo Heights is a neighborhood located just south of State Street, between Elm and Church Streets, on the fringe of Old Irving Park. It was developed in the early 1900's as a commercial and residential community for mill workers. The close-knit community, known as a "town within a city,"  flourished until the 1940's (reference). It had restaurants, a hardware store, grocery stores, a movie theater, a school,many churches, and its own police officer. Street names include: Golden Gate, Newlyn, Macy, Bernard, Roseland, Buffalo, Georgia, Palm, and Shelton. In earlier years, it was also known as "The Heights."

As we drove around this neighborhood last weekend, we did get a sense of the charm of McAdoo Heights. The community garden, on Golden Gate Drive, is just lovely. Many houses are decorated for Halloween and and, the day we were there, several families out enjoying the fall afternoon. The above house, at 200 East Newlyn Street is larger than many of the one-story mill houses in the neighborhood. It was built in the 1928, also a little earlier than many in the neighborhood. The high triangles of the peaked roofline at the entrance are quite welcoming and the light blue door makes it clear where one it to enter. We'd like to think it has the character of an "anchor" house for the neighborhood the way it stands, in all its glory, on the corner of Georgia and East Newlyn.

We wonder if there is a connection between McAdoo Heights and the retired, professional basketball star, Bob McAdoo who is from Greensboro. He graduated from Smith High School (in the late 1960's) and is currently an assistant coach for the Miami Heat. Maybe Coach McAdoo is the keeper of some great information about this cozy little neighborhood with his same name. Any and all pieces of information would be greatly appreciated.

Today is ABC Wednesday and M is for McAdoo Heights. For our A-L neighborhood pages, look here.

 

*informative reference here.

Greensboro's C'EST-MOI Mobile

(Mais ... Qui êtes-vous)?

Today is more light-hearted than usual on GDP. Since we have lots of faithful readers who are Francophiles, we just had to share the "C'EST-MOI" mobile for all to enjoy. Maybe Rice Toyota gives vanity tags for a promotion with purchase as we see so many vanity tags on Rice Toyota vehicles! Given the dealership, we know C'est-moi  has local ties. If you get a chance, ask the "It is I" or "It's me" mobile, who they are... and let us know, please.

Here are some local vanity tags we've shared in the past. (A, B, C, D, E,). Perhaps our favorite is the one related to breast cancer and, since it is breast cancer awareness month, these tags seem especially meaningful to share again.

By the way, yesterday was our most viewed day ever on GDP. Either our vegetables brought readers out of the woodwork or our four years of meeting people and promoting Greensboro are starting to pay off in readership. As much time as we spend on the road driving and meeting people, it is hard to believe that the effortless snapping of veggies in our back yard brought in new readers. Regardless, we love every minute of it. And, hats off to Hugh (see his comment) for realizing yesterday's okra was, largely, too mature to eat! So for today, Hugh is our featured reader.....Hugh.......

C'EST TOI.

Autumn Vegetables

In Greensboro, the temperature dropped significantly yesterday, from what felt like 80 degrees on Saturday to in the 50's on Sunday. Above, you see the produce that we harvested from our back yard yesterday. Chez Mr. and Mrs. GDP, we've opted to nurse along our summer garden a little more, as opposed to being good southerners and planting cold crops (turnips, collards, radishes, mixed greens, broccoli, etc.). We still have okra (purple & green), a few cherry tomatoes, and eggplant.

Additionally, the fruit on our saijo persimmon tree is now ripe. It was so abundant this year that the top snapped off under the weight of the fruit. Saijo means "the very best one" in Japanese and rightfully so. The saijo persimmon doesn't need a pollinator tree, is disease resistent and is hardy in our planting zone. Wish us luck that the remaining half of the two-year-old tree will continue to grow. The photo shows about 1/4 of the fruit from the little tree so you can see what we mean by abundant. We have already turned the pulp from these persimmons into persimmon cake. Although we've enjoyed the fruit, we regret not pruning the tree back and learned our lesson the hard way.

One of Mr. GDP's favorite childhood foods was persimmon pudding, made with wild, native persimmons. The wild variety is labor intensive to prepare for use in the kitchen. The seeds are large and the amount of pulp significantly less than the Asian varieties. It is getting harder to find native persimmons. If you see some for sale, or better yet, free for the picking, please let us know. With each generation, there are fewer and fewer memories of seasonal foods. Just about any food one wants can be imported from somewhere these days. However, nothing beats the spicy tastes of fall... consumed in October and November! Making native persimmon pudding is a North Carolina tradition and is still on our to-do list.

Session House of Bethel Presbyterian

Today, we take you to the session house at Bethel Presbyterian, way out in the eastern end of the county. Above, we see the small facility that dates back to 1875. On the outside, the white wooden structure resembles a one room school house. As you can see, on the inside, it looks a lot like a one room schoolhouse, too.

Here is where the church archives documents relevant to the history of the church. For example, there are receipts showing where people had paid for the priviledge of sitting in the same pew for the year.  There are many photos of church leaders and members over the years housed here. The white, hanging lights at the back wall came from the sanctuary of Bethel. Archiving documents and maintaining a history is particularly important to a church like Bethel that not only has a 200-year history; it also has church members whose families date back to about the founding of the church. To these members, documenting the history is priceless. The little building that houses these memories is priceless, too.

Does your church (or other religious institution) have its history in order? If not, no better time than the present. Happy Sunday, everyone!

Margot Robinson, Artist

Margot Robinson is one of the many talented artistes with a studio in the Creative Center. The Center is located at 900 16th Street, across the street from Buffalo Presbyterian Church, at the western tip of the Billy "Crash" Craddock Bridge. It brings together creative souls from all over the city and offers everything from yoga to Spanish to studio space. Margot shares a very large 3rd floor studio with Karen Dresser whose art quilts can be seen adorning the wall. Karen's abstract figures, as seen above, complement Margot's textured, pottery pieces.

Margot's sculptures are known as peaceful warriors and they are based on Japanese tomb sculptures. Her intent is for the sculptures to bring "a feeling of peace and joy" to their owner. She leaves the eyes hollow; they are the window to the soul. The ambiguous ethnicity of the peaceful warriors leaves much of the interpretation up to the owner. Some of the figures are reminiscent of little Russian grandmothers; others resemble Japanese figures from a different era. Margot shapes something ancient, yet contemporary into each of her clay figures.We met up with Margot (and Karen) last night at the Center, where she treated us to snacks and great conversation.  

Last night's Candlelight Studio Tour at the Creative Center was the perfect way to finish out a great, First Friday. With a drum circle and hula hoopers outside, and artists like Margot inside, we saw firsthand just how vibrant Greensboro's art scene has become.

Autumn Knocks on Knox Road

Autumn is knocking at the door just about everywhere in Greensboro. We see it in the shorter days. We see it in the leaves beginning to turn. The okra has decided it is done blooming and the basil has gone go seed. Squirrels are scampering, collecting acorns from our city's large oak trees. October has got to be one of the loveliest months in North Carolina. Before you know it, the leaves will be at peak.

The above photo was taken in the eastern end of the county on Knox Road just across the street from Twin Oaks Ministry. It reminded us that, before you know it, many Greensboro families will be heading out to maize mazes, spooky woods, and haunted houses. Before we bring on those end of October activities, we'll concentrate on all that the beginning of the month has to offer. Of course tonight is First Friday and so downtown will be hoppin'. Also, from 8:00- 10:00 pm, the Creative Center at 900 16th Street will be holding a candlelight tour and Triad Stage is in full swing. Saturday is the Battleground Brewer's Guild will hold Octoberfest. On Sunday from 12:00- 5:00 pm, Art in the Arboretum will host their annual art and gardening event. If you know of other things and want to share, do add a comment. We'd love to hear what you are up to this weekend.

Battleground Brewer's Guild

The Battleground Brewer's Guild is located on Ballinger Road at Longview Hills. It is one of those rare, hold-out farms in the once bucolic area. Both the Brewer's Guild and  Coble Farm- a stone's throw away on the next hill- are close to being choked out by development. For now, however, the Battleground Brewer's Guild, founded in 2000, looks like it is there to stay.

The brewer's guild is centered around learning to brew and enjoy good beer.  A lot of learning, teaching and enjoying goes on during their monthly meetings. The organization's next big event is a members-only Octoberfest celebration this Saturday. Shortly thereafter, they will hold Skirmish in the Triad (November 3rd), their fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

The serendipitious uncovering of Battleground Brewer's Guild had us giddy with excitement this weekend. As we were exploring the Longview Hills neighborhood, we first noticed the cows, then the sign, then the grill, then the hops growing up the string. If you are over 21 and interested in this organization, read more here. Who knows, you may even be able to join soon enough to get in on these events. As for us, we are just thrilled to see cows and farmland so close to town.

L is for Longview Hills

Today is ABC Wednesday and for this round, we're featuring neighborhoods of Greensboro. For "L," we have Lake Jeanette, Latham Park, and Lindley Park, and likely a few others. We selected Longview Hills because we knew very little about the area and wanted to learn more. Longview Hills is a tiny neighborhood, less than a quarter of a square mile in size with a population of almost 350 residents. The neighborhood, extensively developed between 1970-1990, is built on what seems to have been farmland in a part of town that was a large Quaker settlement. The neighborhood has residents with above-average (for Greensboro) rates of bachelor's and master's degree. The neighborhood is close to Guilford College. 

Longview Hills is located just off Ballinger Road between I-73 and New Garden Road. It is a stone's throw from Friends Home and Arcadia Drive.  Buckhorn Road, Gretchen Lane, King George Drive, and Wakefield Place are also part of this neighborhood.  We are actually cheating a little bit as the above property is located at 1100 Rustic Road and Rustic is one street beyond the perimeter of Longview Hills. However, the property, built in 1955, is such a beauty and has probably the best view in the city of Longview Hills. Rustic Road actually becomes Arcadia at the bend in the road, just after this house. Also part of Arcadia runs through Longview Hills. 

We are intrigued by how these neighborhoods of Greensboro got their names and the extent to which the residents see the neighborhood a cohesive entity. The bridge is being rebuild at the Lenord Recreation Center end of the neighborhood; so don't plan on using it as a cut-through!

Campfires and Constellations

Campfires and Constellations is a genre-defying, little-bit-of- Americana, little- bit-of-rock-and-roll, country-with-a driving-beat BAND currently based out of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. All five musicians are UNC students from North Carolina and, Ernest Thompson, the banjo player (first row, left) is from Greensboro. Ernest developed his banjo style while taking lessons from Greensboro's ever talented Scott Manring. The other instruments represented in the band are guitar, bass, and percussion. The guys have such diverse interests and backgrounds and are talented not only musically but academically. 

The band was in Greensboro last night for a live performance on UNCG's radio station WUAG FM 103.1. If you want to hear their music, go here. If you like what you hear, head on over to the Facebook page for Campfires and Constellations and give them a "like." 

200th Anniversary Honoring of Bethel Veterans

Yesterday, Bethel Presbyterian Church*  held a special ceremony to honor all veterans and members of the Armed Forces affiliated with their church. The program started with a welcome and invocation by the church's pastor, Rev. Paul L. Rhodes. Several veterans and service organizations participated in the service. The event was organized partly to honor the 200 year history of the church and its members.

A rifle salute and cannon salute were conducted by people in uniforms of previous wars. The people in the above photo were dressed in period attire to represent the US Civil War. The woman on the left belongs to the Society of the Black Rose. This organization was established in 1998 to help with memorial services. Wearing a complete period mourning outfit, she is present to remind people of the loss of life during the Civil War.  The Black Rose was named in honor of Rose O'Neal Greenhow, who lost her life trying to help the Confederate Cause.  

The Bethel event also included a flag retirement ceremony and the presentation and raising of a new flag. This fine ceremony was educational to many and meaningful to all who attended.

*Read our earlier post on Bethel Presbyterian here.

Emmanuel Church of Christ

Emmanuel Church of Christ is located at 2909 Phillips Avenue, in the Kings Forest neighborhood very near Huffine Mill Road. Churches of Christ are known for their independence and autonomy. They are New Testament and Bible-based; however, other beliefs, such as type of music played in the church, are not uniform.

Like so many of the churches we feature for "Sacred Sunday," no webpage exists to tell of the history of the church or the building. You can see the bell to the right, embedded within the nameplate. As with so many churches, the structure features an A-line roof and a large stained glass window. Next time we're out that way, we'll stop in and see if we can learn more about the history of the church. In the meantime, we cannot emphasize enough the importances of religious institutions archiving their history online.

We do know that the church sure looked beautiful when this photo was taken on almost the last day of summer. We bet it will be pretty as the leaves around it take on their fall color. By the way, happy Sunday, happy autumn..........

New York Pizza on Tate Street

    New York Pizza on Tate Street has been serving the UNCG area since 1977. In thirty five years, they've seen a lot of changes, watched a lot of people grow up, and even had college students bring their children back for a slice of nostalgia. One thing is for sure, the pizza hasn't changed; same good, classic, NYC, traditional pizza. According to their website, NYP is the "longest established family-owned pizzeria in Greensboro. They make their own dough and sauce in-house- impressive. We love the firey red hair of the woman who waited on us at and the rest of the outdoor crowd during the Tate Street Festival last Saturday. We also love the mural they painted last week on the Walker Avenue side of the building.

 

     NYP opened another location on Battleground Avenue last year; however, according to our waiter at the other location (last week), they no longer have the same ownership. We love supporting locally-owned and just may head to NYP in-between the Liberty Antiques Festival and the Spirit event at Elsewhere.... unless we get side-tracked and end up at another great eatery in Greensboro. Here's to another great, photo-filled weekend in Greensboro, and beyond!

Turtles of North Carolina

We've seen more turtles in Greensboro this summer than we have in recent years- mostly, when they were crossing the road. We found the above turtle quite a while back, but were reminded of it when we saw a man stop right in the middle of Liberty Road to "relocate" a turtle. Such a tender moment out of a burly man in a big truck on a rural road.

If a turtle is in danger of getting hit only consider helping it if you are in a position to stop your vehicle without being at risk of causing an accident. Save human lives first; turtles second. It is wise just scoot them off the road in the direction they are traveling. They know where they are going!  They have an instinctive homing ability and usually spend their whole lives in a 2-4 acre range (reference). Also, if you do touch them, wash your hands immediately as they have been known to carry salmonella. 

 Here is a great web page outlining the turtles of North Carolina and their habitat.

Speaking of Liberty Road, we'll be heading down to Liberty this weekend to enjoy the Liberty Antiques Festival- one of the finest events of its kind in the southeast. Head on down if you get a chance. Oh, and do watch out for critters in the road.

Baby's World Daycare

En route to Kings Forest this weekend we stumbled upon Baby's World Daycare on Phillips Avenue. It is the brightest, crispest, most freshly painted business we have seen in a while. Imagine being a toddler and going up the yellow and red ramp and under the red and yellow awning. It must feel like going to school inside a Little Tykes Cozy Coupe. Baby's World doesn't have its own website so we can find out very little about the business. We do know that families everywhere want a clean, safe, nurturing home-away-from-home for their children while they are at work. 

If this place is as sparkly on the inside and if the help is as organized and inviting as the view on the outside, then Baby's World must be amazing.  They take children as young as six weeks and as old as 12 years. We'll try to get by one day when they are open to see those young ones at play.... 

K is for Kings Forest

Today's neighborhood visit takes us deep in the heart of Kings Forest of northeast Greensboro. Lord Foxley Drive, featured above, is located off of Phillips Avenue near the juncture where it becomes Huffine Mill Road. Sandwiched between Woodbriar Estates and Nealtown Farms, the boundaries of Kings Forest extend from Phillips Avenue in the south to just beyond Old Hickory Drive in the west and Sir Galahad Road to the east. Close to 3,000 people live in this .373 square miles of neighborhood. Kings Forest was developed primarily in the 1960's and 1970's with almost no houses older than 1950 or newer than the late 1990's. While the above homes may be on the newer side for the area, they are indicative of the great care that homeowners take in this neighborhood's houses and lawns.

The street signs in Kings Forest read like the nooks and crannies of a Renaissance festival: King Arthur Place, Sir Galahad Road, Prince Charles Drive, Larchmont Drive and Lord Foxley Drive. Foxley is a village in the county of Norfolk, England, known for having an ancient woodland believed to be over 6,000 years old and dating to the end of the last ice age.* One can only imagine the trees that were in Kings Forest before the area was developed.

Kings Forest is an example of a neighborhood we wish had more written about it. "Whosoever dubbed the neighborhood Kings Forest?" beseech the keepers of Greensboro Daily Photo. We're sharing this post with our dear friends at ABC Wednesday as part of our ABC Neighborhoods of Greensboro series. Today's letter is "K" for "Kings Forest." Enjoy our featured A-J neighborhoods here. And the quest for L-Z begins now!

 

*reference.

Proximity Cemetery

In 2007, the Greensboro News & Record ran an article on Proximity Cemetery; an abandoned, derelict cemetery located on Phillips Avenue in the eastern part of Greensboro-  not too far from Wendover and Bessemer Avenues. The cemetery was garbage and weed strewn with nobody maintaining records of the deceased. Many headstones were broken, or stolen; some were thrown in a pile in the back corner. According to the N&R article, the cemetery was opened in approximately 1900 as a free burial place for the employees of Cone Mills and it is estimated that approximately 2,000 people are buried there. 

In 2004, the cemetery was sold in conjunction with the Cone bankruptcy case. Finally after six years of nobody knowing what to do with the cemetery and the city not wanting to own it, a neighbor on an adjoining property, John Sweeper, took it over.*  He said that he felt compelled to make the place look beautiful out of the love for his neighborhood and respect for the deceased. He has worked diligently over the last two years making the cemetery accessible to those who have relatives buried there.

Mr. Sweeper must be doing something right because, according to his groundskeeper, about twenty people have been buried there over the last year or so. Families who have lived in the community their whole lives, once again, are finding it appealing to make Proximity Cemetery the final resting place for their deceased loved ones. Initially, people were buried in the cemetery simply based on the next available space when they died. Now, there is an effort to bury families together and the cemetery has a section for veterans and babies. There are three sections named after local textile mills: Proximity, Revolution, and White Oak. As more data become available about who is buried there, information is being posted on find-a-grave.

For someone who knows how to write community grants or for a religious community in search of a LOCAL "mission," restoring this cemetery to its original, beautiful state is a worthy undertaking. It is, after all, part of Greensboro's textile mill history. Most immediately, Proximity Cemetery could use a hard surface on the circular drive that Mr. Sweeper added. He could use help getting tombstones leveled and archived. The cemetery could use plants for landscaping and a few benches to sit on... maybe a little prayer garden.  It wouldn't take much........ Do we have any volunteers? 

 

*Read the WFMY News article here. 

Food Truck Festival

Greensboro's Food Truck Festival, held yesterday on Spring Garden Street, was a giant success. The above photo shows only a small corner of the festival and, as you can see, it was truck-to-truck people waiting patiently in line to sample some of Greensboro's delicacies served out of windows. From tacos to turkey to crêpes, there was something for everybody.

Since it was the first time the festival was held, the city must not have known how much traffic to expect. The area could have benefitted from a closed off street or two- like Saturday's nearby Tate Street Festival. Also, the event could have used more places to sit and another dozen or so food trucks- as the wait in line was extremely long. Of course having the cooperation of Mother Nature, as well as the Central Carolina Fair and the Hispanic Heritage Celebration both right around the corner, likely contributed to the turnout. Additionally, social media breathed great life into Greensboro's inagural Food Truck Festival.*  In addition to enjoying the food, attendees seemed pleased to explore this end of town. Lets hope the local brick and mortar shops will continue to see increased business once the food trucks have pulled back their awnings and rolled on home.

Spring Garden @ Chapman has a lot to offer!

*Follow the blog for Greensboro's food trucks, here.

 

Wendover Hills Wesleyan Church

Wendover Hills Wesleyan Church is located near the airport at 205 South Swing Road. The stark white, industrial building catches the eye by surprise as you approach the area. The Trinity and Bible-based church puts a lot of emphasis on worship and fellowship through music. They appear to be an active congregation and very inviting to visitors and new members.  If you are interested in this church, their small group sessions start today and run through December 9th. 

We love Greensboro's religious diversity and try to feature something to reflect the spirituality of Greensboro every Sunday. We only know what their website says about this church; it seems to be a happy and inviting place. For some reason, seeking spirituality in a warehouse seems intriguing. The non-conventional church building looks so clean, uncluttered and contemporary. We'll have to try to go inside for a visit sometime. 

High Point Rowing Club

The High Point Rowing Club is new to the Triad area and we are so fortunate to have this opportunity for our high school athletes. The Triad's first rowing team practices at Oak Hollow Lake and yesterday was a fabulous day to be out in the 60' shell. Even the choppy water couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of the people who came to practice. The rowing program started a few weeks ago and this was only their third practice. Coach Gene Kininmonth, originally from Australia, brings a wealth of experience to the team. Not only is he a rower himself, he has coached several places, including UCLA. 

If you are not inclined to row, there is still a great deal for you to do in the Greensboro area this weekend. Consider eating  at the Greek Festival and then heading over to the Tate Street Festival. It would be great if you could stop by Elements Gallery at 526 South Elm Street to preview the items in their Breast Cancer Awarness and Prevention Fundraiser. There are so many things to do in the Triad area, none of us should ever complain about being bored. Head on out and enjoy yourself.

We're sharing this photo with the great people at Weekend Reflections who will be clapping joyfully as they see the reflection of the crew in the water.

Guilford College Woods

The sign, labeled Guilford College Woods, greets visitors and residents of Jefferson Gardens. This is the sign and view as you enter the limited-access neighborhood featured on GDP earlier in the week. Herein, you will find the bucolic home of Mr. Crow and Mr. Turkey. The historical marker says it all about a part of Greensboro that has been making history since the early 1700's. 

North Carolina's historical marker program is one of the oldest in the United States. The first marker to be put in place through the North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program was in Granville County in 1936. Now, the markers are in every county; in all, over 1,400 are in place.* We like the above marker because there is ample opportunity to get out of your car and read it. Some markers are alongside such traffic-dense areas that you would risk your life if you stopped to read them.  Do you take the time to read historical markers? Do you have a favorite one? Here is one on the other side of the Guilford College campus.

Well, the weekend is upon us which means we get to go out exploring Greensboro again. Who knows, we just may pull up in your neighborhood. If only we could be like the Publishers Clearinghouse Prize Patrol and show up with a million-dollar check!

*go here to learn more about North Carolina's historical marker program.

Mr. Crow of Ainsworth Drive

Yesterday's Mr. Turkey of Jefferson Gardens loves to run the neighborhood; however, crows are in stiff competition for being the lead birds. They heckle Mr. Turkey every chance they get. At the time of this photo, several crows were foraging on the ground and the crow on the sign was enjoying his elevated vantage point. While up there, he used the sign as an implement to clean off his beak. He raked his beak across the top of the sign several times. Birds hate having anything on their beaks. There is some evidence that crows have extremely high IQ's and, they not only use tools, they can make them. 

Since Ainsworth Drive is the street with all of the decorations at Christmas, perhaps Mr. Crow was plotting to assemble something on his own. He has the smarts and he sure was being vocal about something. It is so much fun to follow the hapenings in our Greensboro neighhborhoods. The longer we look, the more we appreciate. The more we appreciate, the longer we look.....

J is for Jefferson Gardens

    Jefferson Gardens is a neighborhood located off of Jefferson Road, between Friendly Avenue and Hobbs Road. The above house is located on Hayfield Lane; perhaps there was a hayfield here before the house was built in 1972. This neighborhood backs up to Price Park and to 240-acres owned by Guilford College. The natural area behind the houses of Jefferson Gardens attracts plenty of wildlife. As you can see, on the day we were photographing the neighborhood, a wild turkey walked out of the woods and was hanging out on Hayfield Lane. Residents say the turkey thinks it is their pet. 

    Jefferson Gardens is only made up of six main streets (Hayfield Lane, Broadmoor Place, Thorncliff Drive, Elderwood Place, Ainsworth Drive, and Bennington Drive- the main artery) and a few cul-de-sacs. The small neighborhood, with one way in and out, is fairly quiet eleven months a year. Come December, Ainsworth Drive is ablaze with a multiple-home display of Christmas lights and decorations. People from miles around make an annual tradition of driving by and enjoying the festive street.

    Today is ABC Wednesday and J is for Jefferson Gardens. View our A-H neighborhoods here.

Tobacco Hornworm

Yesterday, we brought you a view of UNCG's gardens. Related to the garden theme, today, we bring you a photo of the tobacco hornworm who was busy devouring our cherry tomato plant. He was pretty camouflaged so Mr. GDP offered his index finger to point out this giant caterpillar with the voracious appetite. The Latin name for this creature is manduca sexta. His cousin, manduca quinquemaculata- tomato hornworm- looks very similar. Both eat tomatoes and feed on plants from the family solanaceae. 

These giant caterpillars are fairly hardy and have a short life cycle, making them great for classroom purposes. As an adult, this caterpillar will become a moth that will have the ability to hover like a hummingbird. Nature is so fabulous to observe and Greensboro is teeming with life, as all of these creatures get ready for winter. For sure, with the wonderful parks and natural areas around Greensboro, we can easily combat nature-deficit disorder.  As we sat and watched this beautiful creature, we saw exactly what Eric Carle was thinking when he wrote The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Go for a walk and let us know what you see. Maybe you can even write a book about it!

The UNCG Community Gardens

Saturday was a work day at the University of North Carolina Greensboro's Community Gardens on McIver Street. The gardens were established Fall 2010. The garden started with about 18 raised beds and has grown to around fifty. While each plot is a mere 4X8', with careful planning, a great deal can be planted. Susan Andreatta, Associate Professor of Anthropology, and Guy Sanders, Associate Director of Housing and Residence Life, oversee the project. Dr. Andreatta brings twenty five years in the study of farming systems and work with community gardens to the project. UNCG's Garden Club members are also very involved in this initiative.

Noteworthy is the involvement of UNCG's Dining Services employees at the UNCG Community Garden. They maintain nine of the nearly fifty plots and have actually been able to use harvested items- especially herbs, chard, watermelon, mixed greens, and cherry tomatoes-  for special events. 

Saturday's workday brought a great mix of people from the UNCG community. From faculty and staff to students, from people who have a specific plot to people who simply wanted to give of their time to some folks who were "doing" time for course requirements, there were people from all walks of life. Even those who were initially less than enthusiastic gained a greater appreciation of working together to provide a local food source.

Hopefully, all of the cold weather greens that were planted on Saturday will like this rain we've had in Greensboro and produce vegetables soon. It's still not too late to get some cabbage and mixed greens in the ground. And, if you have as little as a square foot plot of soil, you can grow produce.

Read more here.

Christ Community Church

Christ Community Church, also known as an Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, is located at 811 Jefferson Road at the Friendly Avenue end. According to their website, Christ Community Church was originally organized as a mission (church plant) of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Chruch in March 1980. Their purpose has always been to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Tthe Rev. John Kimmons was their founding pastor. 

The photo is a somewhat deceptive as the church doesn't appear to have any windows. While windows are not featured prominently in this building, they do exist around the side and back. Christ Community is a Christ-based religion; hoewver, crosses do not appear to be featured prominently either. Without visiting, it is hard to know the significance of the unadorned nature of the façade. We'll have to stop by for a visit. The people coming and going to the service seem really friendly.

It sure seems like there are a lot of churches in the segment of Friendly Avenue from Holden Road to Guilford College Road. Then again, there are many houses of worship in Greensboro, period. Most Sundays, we feature one and in almost four years of doing this, we don't think we'll run out of places to photograph anytime soon!

 

114th Central Carolina Fair

As of yesterday, it is Central Carolina Fair Time at the Greensboro Coliseum Grounds. This is the 114th year for this grand event. We suggest heading over as soon as possible to see all of the exhibits while they are still fresh and newly judged. Who will have grown those blue ribbon vegetables? Who will have the best chili? Who will the judges be? Will the rainbow rooster be back? What will be new this year? Here is a list of the exhibits. The Charlie Daniels Band will be playing on Sunday.

The fair will be going strong until 11pm tonight and for eight more days, closing at 8pm on September 23rd. This is such a great family tradition, we suggest you give it a try. Who knows, Mr. Zuckerman and his famous pic might even be there.

Latin Roots at Earthworks Gallery

Last Friday was hopping at First Friday in Downtown Greensboro. The above photo was taken at the opening reception for the exhibit "Latin Roots" at Earthworks Gallery. The exhibit celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month. Last week's music and the month-long exhibit are made possible in part by Casa Azul, an organization that is the catalyst for many great events celebrating Latino culture in the wider Greensboro area. Earthworks Gallery, the event's host, is located at 500 South Elm Street, just across the tracks from the Cascade Saloon Building- the one that has been so much in the news lately.

The man on the left side of this photo, Jim Rientjes, is one of the proprietors of Earthworks. Jim is a very talented potter and he works day and night to ensure that the potters, jewlers, and other artists at Earthworks are represented well. We own pottery made by several of the artists represented here.

If you get a chance, stop and show your support for Earthworks, Casa Azul, and the artists involved in the Latin Roots Exhibit. Items are available for purchase at all price points. Look for the display with the papel picado.  And, as for getting all that visual stimulation- priceless.

Could 911 Find Your Home?

On many homes in Greensboro, it is really hard to figure out the street address. We learned this fact when touring neighborhoods to find homes to feature in Greensboro Daily Photo posts. As a matter of fact, for the house we featured yesterday, the street adress was not readily apparent. However, the above house, just down the street on Country Club Drive, features their street address prominently. It is painted into the walkway- visitible even from the air! Notice,also, the small, brass 710 plaque on the brick column on the right. If you were 911, which number do you think you would see first?

Years ago, teenagers would come around and stencil your house number on your steps or curb so that it would be readily availabe from the street. Usually, homeoners would provide a dollar or two for this service. Perhaps it is time to bring back these roving entrepreneurs. They could save lives! Walk around your street; look to the left; look to the right; look across the street; look at your own house; and help get everyone "emergency" ready.... Finding your house for a dinner party would be gravy!

I is for Irving Park

    The Irving Park neighborhood, located just north of Downtown Greensboro, was a 350-acre project created by the Southern Real Estate Company  at the beginning of the 20th century.* From Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Bryan and Alfred M. Scales in the past, to entrepreneurs and business owners today, Irving Park has been home to some of Greensboro's most influential residents.  At the center of this prestigious neighborhood is the Greensboro Country Club. The above Irving Park house, located near the country club on Country Club Drive, overlooks the club's immaculate and spacious golf course. It has plenty of acerage, square footage and impeccable design. It exudes Irving Park charm. The residents of this home must feel like they are living in the Pantheon or some other ancient, magnificent structure.

    

    Today is ABC Wednesday and for this round, we're featuring the neighborhoods of Greensboro. I is for Irving Park, Old Irving Park. See A-H neighborhoods, here. Country Club Drive is the street featured with yesterday's walkers; exempifying the fact that even in Greensboro's neighborhoods with giant homes, people find a way to build a sense of community.

* Fripp, G.(1998)  Greensboro Neighborhoods, Volume II, p. 68.

Out for Late Afternoon Walk

Well, yesterday we boasted that we've featured just about every mode of transportation. Perhaps we missed one: getting from Point A to Point B on foot! Walking is a GREAT mode of transportation. Above, a group of 5 women are out for a late-afternoon stroll along Country Club Drive. It has been beautiful walking weather over the last few days and Greensboro loves to walk. We especially enjoy walking with friends and with our dogs. 

Today is September 11.**  This past weekend, hundreds of people walked up and down the steps of Bellemeade Parking Deck to raise money in honor of September 11 victims*  While the above women aren't out fundraising for 9/11, they do remind us that feeling safe enough to walk along our streets with friends is one of the best examples of freedom.  As you walk today- even if it is just to and from the coffee pot at work,  reflect on something that makes you thankful. Post it in our comments, if you have time.

*see News & Record article and photos.

**  Last year for 9/11, we featured a commemorative plaque.

It's a 1961 Corvette

No doubt about it, the vehicle in the photo is a 1961 Chevrolet Corvette convertible. The vanity tags say it all. 1961 was the final year that whitewall tires were offered on the Corvette and the above tires are beautiful. It was also the last year for the option to have the "coves" in a contrasting color- an option not selected in the above vehicle. The 1961 production, 10,939 Corvettes were produced. Half of the buyers opted for the removable top. The base price was 3,934* The above driver has a pretty special vehicle.

This weekend was the perfect weather for being outside. We captured this photo at the intersection where New Garden Road meets Ballinger Road. Maybe he was en route to a meeting of the Triad Corvette Club. They have many fun meet ups for local members. If you are in the market for a new Corvette, the price can range from 50,000 to 100,00 plus.

From segway's to trains and everything in between, over the last 3 1/2 years, we've featured quite a wide assortment of vehicles in Greensboro. View them here if you are so inclined.

* info from conceptcarz

True Deliverance Apostolic Church

Right at the 315-degree angle where Liberty Road bends back on itself, intersecting with Alamance Church Road, you will find True Deliverance Apostolic Church. Led by Pastor Esther Richardson, on Sunday mornings, the congregation has a morning of great sermons and fellowship. This red brick and cinder block building is transformed into a house of salvation. The main entrance to the modest structure has a candy-striped awning. To the left of the main entrance is a white cross made out of fence pickets: No frills, but lots of deliverance for those who enter in.

True Deliverance is located in what we call the "religious deversity" corridor of Guilford County. Just about every religion imaginable- from Buddhism to Jehovah Witness to Baptist to everything in between- is concentrated in a few square miles southeast of downtown. Last Sunday, we enjoyed sitting in the parking lot of True Deliverance listening to the service. At some point, we'd like to step through the door to see what awaits on the other side.

If you are out for a Sunday drive today, head to the Alamance Church/Liberty Road part of town and start counting houses of worship. You will have enough faith-based conversation to fill all the waking hours in a week.

Greensboro's "Tree of Life"

Nothing says "weekend" in Greensboro like a shot of the heart of the city. Here we are at the railroad tracks looking northward towards downtown with the JP building on the horizon. The train says City of Asheville on the side window. Maybe it is headed from the mountains to the coast. Every North Carolinian should make that very journey at least once. It should be a standard school field trip.  

While looking up rail history in North Carolina, we came across these videos on the city's website. They were part of the Bicentennial production about Greensboro. We also found this timeline on the history of the North Carolina Railroad (NCRR) company. In the 19th century, the rail system was referred to as North Carolina's "tree of life." Finally, a "must do" is click on this NCRR interactive map, to see the route and learn about the UNCG/pedestrian underpass project.

 

Latino Credit Union

North Carolina has a thriving Latino population. Since the 1980's, our Latino population has grown from less than half a percent to almost 8 1/2 percent and we have more more agricultural guest workers than any other state in the US. As of May 2012, there were nearly 100,000 registered Latino voters in North Carolina.* Is it any wonder that there is a  COOPERATIVA LATINO Credit Union in North Carolina? Our branch office is located at 2410 Randleman Road, in the southern, more rural, end of the county.

The above photo was taken at Greensboro's festival for children last April, "El día de los niños." The event attracted families of many different ethnicities. Most people from elsewhere don't realize the diversity of the population in our great city.... in our great state. The number of languages, spoken in homes here, is approximately 180.

That the 2012 Democratic Convention was held in Charlotte sends indicates that politicans realize the importance of the ethnic minorities in our state. That we have a credit union to help Spanish-speaking residents save, borrow, and transmit funds is evidence that Greensboro is trying to meet the needs of all residents.

Today is First Friday. Consider taking a little bit of cash out of that Cooperativa Latino Credit Union- or wherever you bank- and heading downtown.....

 

* reference here.

4308 Starmount Drive

While you have Hamilton Lakes fresh on your mind, allow us to share another property in the same neighborhood. The above home, built in 1984, is located on 4308 Starmount Drive, not too far from yesterday's featured home. This glossy, dark-gray house, with the Lily Pulitzer green grass and pink door, had a non-descript, red-brick façade when it sold two years ago. For sure, the current owners have brought the look into the 21st century. The door just pops into view as you approach the intersection with Nut Bush Road. How relaxing it would be to sit on that porch and watch the neighbors pass by.

Starmount Road is one of the longest, most twisted roads in town and it extends way beyond Hamilton Lakes. If you really want to get to know the character of Greensboro living, consider starting at the Lindley Park end of Starmount (@Green Valley) where it almost crosses Market Street twice. Then, follow Starmount as it winds across Holden and along Starmount Forest Country Club where it ends at Madison Avenue. Starmount homes have such character and personality and, to be sure, there is something for everybody!

 

H is for Hamilton Lakes

Today is ABC Wednesday and H is for Hamilton Lakes, a community established in 1920 and now part of the City of Greensboro. Hamilton Lakes was founded by Greensboro developer A.M. Scales, who moved from Irving Park to Hamilton Lakes. He not only developed this "streetcar suburb," he served as its first mayor. The earlier homes, like the one above [circa 1925], were built in the grand style of homes in Scales' beloved Irving Park. However, during and after World War II, new construction in the neighborhood was significantly more modest. While differences are extreme, the beauty of Hamilton Lakes is that residents in all price points take great pride in the community and collectively maintain the nature trails, lakes, and other community-use spaces. Hamilton Lakes was annexed by Greensboro in 1957; however, a strong neighborhood association helps maintain the neighborhood's identity. 

The above home at 104 Kemp Road West, built in the Mediterranean-style, likely acquired its terra cotta roof tiles from nearby Pomona Terra Cotta Works, a now-defunct, early 20th century Greensboro business. We absolutely love this house and so must its owners; because, if online records are correct, they have lived in it since 1976.

Here is our previously-published photo of the 11,000 square ft. Scales home and the Morton House, down the street from the above home. Also, yesterday's photo was taken in Hamilton Lakes on Lake Hamilton. See another photo taken in the neighborhood. We can bring you dozens of photos; however, nothing can capture the sensation of walking the trails of Hamilton Lakes, especially once the leaves start turning color.

See our previous A-G neighborhood features here.

Fishing on Labor Day

Yesterday, this father and son duo were enjoying some late afternoon fishing in Lake Hamilton. They didn't seem to be having a lot of luck, but, then again, fishing isn't always about the luck. It is about the fellowship, the fun, and the hopefulness that comes when waiting.. with bait on a hook and a line in water. The lake, located in the heart of the Hamilton Lakes neighborhood, was so peaceful yesterday and fairly clear, considering it has been raining in Greensboro. There is a large swan is quite at home on Lake Hamilton, and is oblivious to what his human guests are up to.

While we were walking the trails around the lake, we saw at least six different kinds of mushrooms; some with interesting shapes and colors. If you like to hunt mushrooms, locally, weather conditions have been perfect these last few days. All the mature hardwood trees in Hamilton Lakes, along with the leaf mulch, seemed to invite the fleshy, spore-bearing fungus.

Today, routines are back to normal, the boy in the above photo is back in school, maybe even talking about the "one they caught" or the "one that got away." Likely, dad is back at work taking about the good time he had with his son. Even without this photo, the memory is one the little boy will have in his heart- for a very long time. 

Greensboro Buddhist Center

As the sign states, the above house is the Buddhist Center of Greensboro. It is part of a large complex of buildings and land on Liberty Road, near the intersection with Alamance Church Road. The part of the facility visible from the road looks like just another home in Southeast Greensboro. However, upon closer inspection, you will find that there are many of the elements typical of temples in Southeast Asia. The Center, where the Greensboro Buddhist community gathers, is walled, has a large bell, an altar, a sheltered outdoor space to gather and socialize, gardens, and a residence for monks. It is a home away from home for its members; a place to gather and keep alive the ways of ancestors and to instill 1,200 years of Buddhist values and Cambodian customs in the youngest generation.*  It has been a way to heal for the Khmer refugees who have been struggling to keep their identity since their traumatic experiences during the Vietnam War.

The Buddhist Center of Greensboro was established in 1986 and Head Monk, Phramaha Somsak Sambimb has been living in Greensboro since 1988. Here is a little bit about the religion from their website: "The teaching of Buddha guide day to day living through a set of values, ethics, and a moral code. Compassion, forgiveness, generosity, gratitude, and respect for elders are all basic Buddhist principles." He has been mentoring Darrell Kitchen, a Kentucky native, on his path to becoming a Buddhist monk for five years now.* 

Buddhism is one of many religions represented on Liberty Road. As we toured the area last Sunday, we were impressed that all the faith groups seemed to live in harmony and value the right of people to congregate and worship, regardless of their religion. How wonderful to be a stone's throw away, but not throwing stones.

*Here is a 2007 article on the Buddhist Center, from the News & Record. See the Center's fantastic website here.

La Vitrine.........

This window dressing, at design ARCHIVES on South Elm Street made us feel as if we were hanging out in Paris or New York City. Everyone loves a creative window display and this one was just so visually appealing that we're giving it an eight-mannequins-up award. Owner and Curator Kit Rodenbaugh, along with her very capable staff and vendors, keep their vintage and handmade emporium attractive and are constantly making us do a double take when walking by. This was the view of "la vitrine" at design ARCHIVES in early August. 

We looked at our recent posts and decided that GDP needed a good dose of color and a little levity to kick off a new month. Elm Street is so full of not just color but also LOCAL color and is a great place to take photos. On the same block as design ARCHIVES, we photographed this and this. Time to head back downtown and see what we can find on South Elm Street today. 

For yet another GDP riot of color, see this rooster, and this greenway trash. We're sharing today's post with Weekend Reflections where reflections are not only appreciated, they are expected. Goodbye, August; hello, September!