The Lincoln National Corporation Building

Let's start the week with a view of the iconic Greensboro building that we call the JP Building. We call it the JP Building because, when we first became acquainted with it, the business was known as Jefferson Pilot. In its current iteration, it is the Lincoln National Corporation. To be fair to Lincoln Financial Group, the marketing name for LNC, they have their own grand history. Named for President Lincoln because his name evoked 'integrity', LNC traces its roots to back to 1905 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. President Lincoln's son authorized the use of his father's name as well as an image of him.*

Seven years ago, in March 2006, Lincoln Financial Group acquired Greensboro's Jefferson Pilot, which was founded in 1968 when Jefferson Standard Insurance (founded 1907) and Pilot Life Insurance (founded 1903) merged. And since 2006, what LFG has bought and sold gets complicated and, if you are interested, it is worth reading the Wiki entry. Television, radio, and sports are involved.

We think an update on the above building and all its incarnations would make a great O.Henry Magazine story. Is there still a restaurant on the top floor? If so, can someone who doesn't work there eat there? Does it still look the same inside? What's been going on in this building that used to be the tallest between D.C. and Atlanta? We just may need to head down to 100 North Greene Street and try to learn more. In the meantime, around our house, we can't help but call it the old JP Building. Habits are hard to break. Happy Monday, dear readers. 

*reference

Comments

[Fred Robbins]

My sister worked at Massachusetts Mutual Insurance in the late 60's which was located in this building and she remembered at one time a fire observation booth was on the roof.

[Tanya]

it's a beautiful building...it looks interesting against all the modern advertising!

[Janis & David]

Thanks for sharing, Fred. I'll bet lots of locals have memories of this building.

Thanks, Tanya for your kind words from Roanoke, VA (http://monroega.blogspot.com/)

Janis & David

[Jane T. Mitchell]

I remember dining in the City Club located at the top of the JP Building, but according to the Business Journal, http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2005/05/23/daily23.html, it closed in 2005.

[Janis & David]

Thanks, Jane! Well, now that Downtown Greensboro is a popular destination, we think it is a great time to open another restaurant/event venue there. Even if it were only open on weekends and for lunch during the week, surely the community would be interested!

We can do it, Greensboro.

[Jack Hart]

When they built the new building back in I think 1988 the brand new copper roof was gleaming! A couple of times I would be on South Elm going north at Vandalia Rd, and the sun would be shining off the roof so bright that it was blinding! Very neat!
Jack