Jefferson Standard Building

The Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Building was constructed in Greensboro on the corner of Elm and Market Street in 1922. While the Genesis Marker in Fisher Park is the geographic center of Guilford County (see here), many people see the Elm/Market spot as the center, a sort of Ground Zero from which the rest of the city radiates. Indeed, this is the point at which North and South Elm Street and East and West Market Street are determined; the center of the compass rose. This spot was once known as Courthouse Square before it became known as Jefferson Square when the Jefferson Building replaced the courthouse. Sixty to seventy years ago, this building was a hub of activity, where you went for professional help: Doctors, lawyers, and insurance agents had their offices there. Also on the ground floor were a bank and a men's clothing store. During World War II, a county draft board was located inside. At that time, nearly all of the federal highways (U.S. 29, U.S. 70, and U.S. 421) passed through the square, giving it its name, "The Crossroads of the Carolinas."

Today, this intersection is not so much a hub of activity and the Jefferson Building is closed to the general public. It is used by Lincoln Financial Group and the (numbered) doors on Elm Street are not open to the public. We don't know exactly when that transformation took place, but we are grateful to Jim Schlosser who shared much of the above information with us. He has been so generous with information.  He is a walking encyclopedia of Greensboro history and lore. Jim remembers getting his pair of contact lenses there in 1958. Jim also remembers, in the pre-1990 days before the new Jefferson-Pilot  building was built, before the time and temperature lights at the top. When there was only the Jefferson Building, there was a big clock bearing a Wimbish Insurance Agency advertisement. People would say to each other, "Meet me under the Wimbish clock." Today, that clock only exists in the memory of those who lived during that time. We are lucky the building remains intact. On the outside, the architecture is beautiful, on the inside, the U shaped feature provided light and air in an era before there was air conditioning.

Here's to a great week, starting with a happy Monday!

Comments

[Jane Mitchell]

Most informative. Thank you Jim and Janis.

[William Kendall]

Quite imposing.