Driving along Chapman Street yesterday, we saw that the house st 507 South Chapman, belonging to the True family, is still for sale. The True family moved in to the house in 1962; eventually they were able to purchase it with community support. Every year, Jack, Sr. who was known as the Santa of Chapman Street, dressed as Santa and brought children so much joy. He also decorated for other holidays. He died in 2003. Earlier this year, June 2, 2022, Yes! Weekly published an article about the fact that Roger True, Jack's son, sold the house and moved to Pennsylvania. After 60 years, the little house sits empty and the Trues no longer own it. The house was slated to be demolished, but is now for sale, listed as uninhabitable and for sale"as is". The house lacks a permanent heat source and the tarp indicates the roof is leaking. It will be interesting to see if the house is renovated or if something else will be built on the .19 acre lot.
It is so heartwarming to know that the family that lived in such humble conditions brought so much joy to so many- for decades. The Yes! Weekly article reminds us that, back in the day, families would drop their children off here to watch movies on a makeshift screen while their parents went to the movies at Friendly Center. As we near Thanksgiving Day, we are thankful for community members like the Trues. Let's hope Roger is living a good life in Pennsylvania and that, whoever buys this lot, experiences the joy the former owners experienced by bringing joy to others. That porch is filled with so many memories to so many of us in Greensboro.
Happy Tuesday!
Read the great Yes! Weekly article HERE.
That is so touching. Please keep us up to date.
Posted by: Pat | Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 05:48 AM
Time will tell.
Posted by: William Kendall | Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 10:15 AM