Greensboro Daily Photo

2416 Walker Avenue: Little Round House

Twelve years on Greensboro Daily Photo, we featured the 2 bedroom 1 bathroom, round house at 2416 Walker Avenue. We decided to return after over a decade and see if anything had changed. Well, the actual house still looks the same (see here). In a way, how are you going to change a round house? If you add on, it will no longer be round. Adding a second floor would be hard. Indeed, the house looks the same, but the big difference is the yard. It has going from being a fairly empty 1/4 acre lot to now being filled with plants, flowers for pollinators, and a giant plant that is either squash, gourds, or pumpkins. There were butterflies, bees, and goldfinches working the yard and the owners have definitely created a yard that they don't need to mow.

Leading up to the door (not visible in this photo) are round stepping stones and two heads that look like the Moai heads on Easter Island. 2416 Walker Ave., built in 1976,  is definitely a unique property and the owners seem to have a great spirit about them. It will be fun to watch what they will do with all of the squash, gourds, pumpkins they harvest over the next month. Wonder what it will look like if we stop back by in another decade. We're still waiting for that tour of the inside.

Happy First Friday! Be sure to head downtown this evening. There will be so much happening downtown, especially in the city parks, in the Cultural Arts Center, and on Elm Street.

BC Clay Art, Available at Ambleside Gallery!

This sculpture was created by Brad and Bryan Caviness of BC Clay Art. It is currently for sale through Ambleside Gallery on South Elm Street. The piece is called, Babri Mosque Demolition. The Caviness brothers are known for their pieces inspired by the architecture and artifacts of great places in civilization throughout the centuries. The Babri Mosque piece is no exception. Babri Mosque was located in Ayodhya, India, built in the 1500s and destroyed in 1992 by a group of activists. Ambleside Gallery carries many pieces by the Caviness brothers.  It is our understanding the idea came about for these vignette pieces came about as a result of what Bob Ross would call "a happy accident". A piece of pottery broke and they started experimenting with what they could do to salvage the piece and the architectural sculptures began to take on a life of their own. The designs take you from room to room, with each room unique and detailed. The right lighting really enhances the pieces. These pieces are especially relevant today when it seems like the world can be so complacent about destruction of places that really belong to the world.

The talent the goes into these intricate pieces is better understood when you know that Bryan graduated from NC State with a BFA in architecture and environmental design. Brad has a BFA from UNC Greensboro where he studied painting, printmaking, ceramic and bronze casting. These artists are well worth following and Ambleside Gallery is a place you will love if you like fine art. The art world in Greensboro just keeps getting finer and finer.

Happy Sunday!

The S. H. Kress Building of 212 S. Elm Street

The Kress Building is the iconic, Art Deco style building of Elm Street. It was built during the Great Depression, in 1930, as a five and dime store. The owner believed even inexpensive items should be purchased in a place of beauty. As you can see from the above photo, the façade is distinctive. There so much interesting history surrounding the building. For example, it was part of the Greensboro Sit-In Movement of 1960, two months after the ones at Woolworth. Forty-five people were arrested for sitting at the lunch counter. Another bit of local imagery sits on the top of the building, at the columns flanking the word KRESS. Tobacco leaves flowing out of the horns of a ram, a nod to the tobacco industry in North Carolina. Also, the building implemented an early form of air conditioning where ice was frozen by night and the ice was used to cool salt brine water to cool the building- so very mid 20th century creative!*

In 2001, the penthouse of The Kress Building, formerly a mechanical room, was transformed into a penthouse for John Lomax, President, Lomax Construction. We're wondering if those curtains are part of the penthouse. We'll have to ask Lori Gray, who designed the space for John. In the meantime, we'll just have a Great Gatsby experience and sit here at "White and Wood Resturant," across the street admiring this beautiful building. If walls could talk, 212 South Elm Street would write a book!

Happy Tuesday!

 

• reference and more great information, here.

A Sunny Afternoon Downtown on Elm

Today, we share a slice of life on the 200 block of South Elm Street. The couple on the right is headed towards the 100 block.  Yesterday, the inside reception area of the Lincoln Financial Group building was featured on GDP. Today, the LFG building is peeking out above the tree, as if it is watching over the city. Also in the photo is the International Civil Rights Center and Museum. The barriers are up because part of the street is blocked off to accommodate the added outdoor seating for restaurants. The covered area the couple is walking under what was in previous decades the Ellis-Stone/Thalhimers Building. Soon, the leaves on the trees will change; however, for now, they are evidence of just how green Greensboro is.

If you get a chance, head downtown on this nice, fall day. Also, the Liberty Antiques Festival will be happening today. If you want a smaller, more intimate outdoor event, head to Providence Farm in eastern Guilford County this afternoon. Starting at 3:30, they will have the Zinc Kings playing acoustic instruments while DZ Butts will be selling BBQ and Bull City will be on hand for libations. We don't remember exactly what time we took this photo on Thursday, but we do know- thanks to the LPG building-  that it was 68° outside!

Greensboro History Museum

 

Yesterday was a beautiful day in downtown Greensboro, albeit 91+ degrees!  The above photo is of the Greensboro History Museum, located at 130 Summit Avenue. However, this side actually faces the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. While this building is now the history museum, as you can see from the historic marker on the left, during the Civil War, it served as a Confederate Hospital, receiving wounded soldiers from the battle of Bentonville. Even before serving as a confederate hospital, it had been built as the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro. The above view features an almost identical orientation of the photo found on p. 49 of Gale Hicks Fripp's book "Greensboro Volume II Neighborhoods (Arcadia Publishing, 1998). 

In her book, Fripp explains that in 1892, The First Presbyterian congregation completed this sanctuary, the third iteration of the church. The style is Romanesque Revival.  The dormer windows to the right remain intact from the late 1800s; however, the upper portion of the tower, formerly pointed, is missing. This sanctuary is the oldest part of the complex. Other features of the property include Mary Lynn Richardson Park, a cemetery, and the Smith Memorial Building. If you were hoping for a church service, since the late 1920s, the First Presbyterian Church has been located on North Elm Street in Fisher Park. If you have not visited the Greensboro History Museum, you owe it to yourself to do so. You can learn so much about the history of Greensboro, and the exhibits are breathtakingly curated. The current (temporary) exhibit on the third floor, Pieces of Now, features murals, masks, community stories and conversations centered around the Black Lives Matter Movement and the COVID Epidemic. Perhaps you can schedule a visit during the upcoming North Carolina Folk Festival, September 10- 12.

The museum open today from 2:00 pm- 5:00 pm. Fortunately, there is no interest fee- although donations are always appreciated! 

Happy Sunday!

Christman Building, Formerly Known As Cascade Saloon

Since we were already downtown yesterday, let's stay another day, at the railroad tracks just north on Barnhardt Street on Elm. Notice how the tracks flank the Christman building, which was known formerly as the Cascade Saloon. Christman has worked hard to maintain the integrity of the exterior of the building, while completely renovating the interior. There is a lot of history in the buildings south of the railroad tracks; none of them existed prior to the 1890s. The Christman building at 408 South Elm reflects the common look of the brick buildings built at the end of the 19th/beginning of the 20th century.

This building, constructed in 1896, is a three-story Italianate building with granite lintels and and sills. It began life as a saloon and then became Clegg Grocery, and now has been completely structurally reinforced. Let's hope it lasts well into the next century- and beyond.  If you want to read a very informative history and description of downtown Greensboro, this government document, a National Register of Historic Places Inventory- Nomination Form for the city of Greensboro is well worth bookmarking.

LOVE Is All Around!

The above photo was taken on Market Street, the road that leads into downtown. LOVE is a piece of art made by Frances P., a student at the Greensboro Day School. How wonderful that LOVE is what you see and think about as you enter our city.  Also in the photo is the Brown Building, Independence Center, and Lincoln Financial Corp. 

A lot of these utility boxes have artwork on them. It can be fun to walk around town and see all of the new artwork, whether  you like visual arts or architecture. For a town of about 300,00 residents, there is plenty to see here!

Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church

Today's photo features Our Lady of Grace (OLG)  Roman Catholic Church on West Market Street in Sunset Hills. It was taken on Palm Sunday, just after church had ended. The church is so large, it is necessary to photograph it from the other side of the street to get a photo of the whole facade. These beautiful, exterior walls are made from pink granite from Salisbury, NC.

The first mass was held at OLG in 1952. If you are local, you likely know the great love with which OLG was built. Greensboro businessman Julian Price, a Baptist, funded the building of OLG for his deceased wife Ethel Clay Price, who had been a devout Catholic. Tragically, Mr. Price died in a car accident before the church was built. If you ever have a chance to attend a service at OLG, you will have a chance to see the stained glass windows imported from Belgium. They are best appreciated from the sanctuary. Also, the pipe organ, a Kleuker from Germany, is known for its high quality tone.* While OLG is 69 year young, it has such a rich history, and it is so wonderful that this history is well documented and easily accessible through the internet. May it continue to serve its congregation for generations to come. Happy Sunday!

 

*read more about the organ, here.

Cone Health Facility at North Battleground & Drawbridge Pkwy.

Those of you who have been around Greensboro since the mid-1990s and before remember a very different North Battleground Avenue- near Horse Pen Creek. Twenty-five or so years ago, North Battleground seemed almost like driving out to the country. That was when Laddie and Duke's Irish Pub was busy serving up corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, onion ring loafs, Irish lamb stew, fish and chips, sandwiches and more. That restaurant has long been razed. two gas stations, two drug stores, and two auto parts store are part of the new landscape.

However, more recently, the property at the corner at Drawbridge Parkway and North Battleground is really transforming. First the Urban Loop I-840 passes right by with an exit right there. What used to be a Kentucky Fried Chicken is now a Jake's Diner. What used to be a Food Lion is being transformed into the above medical facility. Brasfield and Gorrie have the contract to build the Cone Health Med Center on the 8 acre lot.  The facility will be 150,000 square feet and will be for emergencies, imaging, and an outpatient medical oncology and rehabilitation service. It will be exciting to follow the progress on this facility. As you can see from the image above, the facility has really started taking shape.

The facility will be just down the road from Well-Spring Retirement Community and Kernodle Middle School. If you haven't driven on Drawbridge Parkway and North Battleground since the Laddie and Duke's days, you owe yourself this adventure! Happy Monday!  

*For those of you who want a little more Greensboro nostalgia, here is an article about Laddie and Duke's, written by John Batchleor for the News and Record back in 1996. Thank goodness for good writers and newspapers and (digital) paper trails!

In Search of a Perfect View

Where can you go in Greensboro to take a fabulous sunrise, sunset, or panoramic view photo? We've been going around town, in search of the perfect view. So far, we haven't found a spot that absolutely showcases the beauty of our city. Today's effort was taken at the Church Street Parking Deck, beside the Central Library and behind the Cultural Arts Center. As seen on the sign, in the lime green block in the top left of the photo, this bright building is the Children's Museum. It has been a Greensboro treasure since it opened on May 15, 1999. While this view of the Children's Museum is a nice one and you can see the tree-lined Dunleath Neighborhood off in the distance, we are still hoping to find a nice panoramic view.

The Children's Museum is temporarily closed due to Covid. When open, it is a place that inspires hands-on learning and according to their website, they have more than 20 exhibits and a 30-foot tall climber. The museum has continued to grow over the years, having added an edible garden and an outdoor play plaza. The cost of admission is $10. If you want to help them through the COVID times, you can donate, here. While the streets look empty, if you look closely you can see a few people walking on the sidewalk in front of the museum.

Bus #1 Reminds Us: Mask Up!

The bus in the photo above is leaving Greene Street, has looped around the Holliday Circle roundabout, and is heading to Spring Garden Street in downtown Greensboro. Notice the "MASK UP!" reminder on bus number 1. The drivers work hard to keep riders, and themselves, safe.

Of course, the tall building in the background is the Lincoln Financial Group building. While the name of the building changes as the occupants change, this skyscraper remains one of the most recognizable landmarks in Greensboro. Actually, it is two buildings. The whiter building to the right in older Jefferson Standard building. It was built in 1922. The grayer one with the green roof and the time/temperature sign is the more recent building, initially Jefferson-Pilot and, as of 2006, Lincoln Financial Group.  At 233 feet, the building is still the tallest in Greensboro.

As for the bus, if you are interested in using this community transportation resource, here is a link to the routes.

When taking the photo, we didn't think there were any people in the photo. On closer inspection, we noticed two people. Do you see the couple?

Farmhouse of Summerfield: 1316 Pleasant Ridge Road

Today's farmhouse is right beside the barn featured yesterday on Greensboro Daily Photo. It is located at 3136 Pleasant Ridge Road. Built in 1918, this 102 year old house has five bedrooms and is approximately 4,000 square feet-- pretty large home for that time period. It is located on a 65-acre parcel of land. It doesn't appear to be currently occupied and may be part of Summerfield Farms. The house is a standout among the mature trees surrounding it. We're betting that a lot of memories were made in that home. The northwestern end of Guilford County has so many interesting homes and buildings. They are easy to miss as we rush from Point A to Point B. As this part of the county changes, it is nice to have these photos for our archives and, hopefully, this house will be around for another century! Happy Thursday!

Barns of Summerfield

This barn is very near where Pleasant Ridge Road intersects with Meadowview Drive. It represents Greensboro and its environs from years gone by. At one time, the county was full of barns for animals, tobacco barns, and other outbuildings that were necessary to keep a farm thriving. Slowly, the parcels of land  with these buildings are being sold off for subdivisions. However, another movement is taking hold in recent years in which young people buy land to farm.

The above barn may actually be part of Summerfield Farms which is a working, thriving, 600 acre farm with the main building just across the road from this barn. The above barn is a lot more humble than "THE" barn at Summerfield farms; however, the above structure holds quite a link to the past. If you want to read more about Summerfield Farms, read their story, HERE. If we happen to see the owner of Summerfield Farms, David Couch, we'll ask him about his building. In the meantime, we hope you will notice it, next time you drive by. Happy Wednesday!

309 South Tremont Drive

309 South Tremont Drive, across the street from Ebenezer Lutheran Church, is a a glorious old home built in 1925. The doors of the house resemble the hobbit homes in New Zealand. In addition to the doors, the steep roof and the symmetry of the house are noted. The home is known as the Jesse N Allred house. We're not entirely sure who Jesse N. Allred was. Do you know? Possibly, this person was a manager at Ansell's which might have been a clothing store. If you know, we'd love to hear from you. 

It is located very near UNCG, just west of campus in an area on the edge of Lindley Park and Sunset Hills. There has to be an interesting story to this home with some features of the storybook style. Happy Tuesday!

Carolina Theatre 2020

Having opened in 1927, The Carolina Theatre is billed as Greensboro's original performing arts center. It is as beautiful now, 93 years later, as it was when it opened. Amid the backdrop of the rain this past weekend, the theatre is especially beautiful. The only thing that would make it make it look even more beautiful would be to have it filled with patrons of the performing arts. It isn't entire clear when the theatre will open again; however, to be sure, it majestically sits on Greene Street, waiting patiently for the next performance. Keep the lights on; we'll be back soon!

Kernersville Wesleyan Church

Kernersville Wesleyan Church is just over the county line on Highway 150 in Forsyth County. Many people go from Greensboro to Kernersville for church and many from Kernersville come to Greensboro for church. The first photo shows the street view of Wesleyan. As you can see, it is quite large and the architecture is impressive. Unfortunately, on their website, we can find nothing about the history or the year the church was built; however,  from the looks of the building, it appears to be relatively new. In searching the Internet, we found a farewell video to Pastor Phil who left in 2016 after 26 years of pastoring at Kernersville Wesleyan, which means, the church is at least 30 years old. Currently Scott Simmons is lead pastor.

The second photo shows the BIG TENT installed in the parking lot behind the church, where the congregation will be meeting at 10am today. Summer services are being held there for the entire month of July. With the current health concerns of large gatherings in enclosed speces, the decision to worship outside makes sense. The contrast between photo one and two is stark; however, they are proof positive that where there is a will, there is a way and you can still worship and celebrate God, even in the most humble of ways. If you are interested in attending, they will make room for you under the BIG TENT! If you go, see if the crows are still on the roof of the church. It seems the birds are convinced they have found a giant perch.

If anyone has a link to the history of the church, please share it with us and we'll link it to this post. Thank you and happy Sunday!

Spring Has Arrived to Ridgeway Drive

In the winter, Ridgeway Drive in Sunset Hills wows carloads of people with the lighted, wire balls up in the trees. In the spring, the Christmas decorations are long gone and the lawns are filled with the flowers and foliage. So many people walk on this street because it is so beautiful.

This residential neighborhood west of downtown and beside Friendly Center dates back to the 1920s. There is also a park and community tennis court in the neighborhood. Many houses, when sold, get significant additions. To be sure, the neighborhood has retained its great sense of community and its residential charm. If you are looking for ideas of how to add curb appeal to your yard, this is a great neighborhood to visit to get ideas!

 

Life on Princeton Avenue

Today's feature is a home on Princeton Avenue, a neighborhood in Greensboro where many of the streets are named after Ivy League schools. It is also near Lindley Park and the area where John Van Lindley had his his Pomona tile factory. The easiest way to access it is to turn behind the Sheetz Gas Station on Market Street. The neighborhood has so much character with quite a variety of single family dwellings. This house, at 4303 is one of the largest ones in the neighborhood. It was built in 1925 and still has much of the original charm, yet with modern updates, including an expansive deck and yard that is ofer 1/2 an acre.

We stumbled on it when in search of a friend's house who lives on Princeton Avenue and on some days puts giant googley-eyes around the yard to help lift everyone's spirits. The day we were there, the googley-eyes had been taken down because it had rained. At least we got to discover the above beauty. We hope you have a good weekend in beautiful Greensboro- or beyond (if you are one of our readers from elsewhere). Oh, the wondrous things out there to see when we have the time to notice.

Granite Wall and Stairs

Out walking at dusk, some things that go unnoticed by day, seem to stand out. The above photo features a small, one-story house on Walker Avenue. What is noticeable is the stone walkway up to the entrance.

Likely, the stairs are from the stone masonry Andrew Leopold Schlosser. Schlosser was a European who came to Greensboro in 1900 and began making stone structures all around town. Much of his work is made from Mt. Airy granite. Here is an article that will give you more information about Schlosser's outstanding work, which he never cataloged or documented in any formal way. Schlosser ran his business by word of mouth. Those stairs have been around for many years and, hopefully, they will last for many decades more. When you are out walking around, notice the great stonework of Greensboro.

Boy Scouts of America Troop 144

Urban exploring can be so much fun. Yesterday, we were exploring the Holden Road area and, at the corner of Walker Avenue and just behind Lindley Park Baptist Church, this little log building was spotted, just glowing in the sun. It was the chinking shining in the sun that made the building noticeable from the road. The chinking appears to be made from red clay and other earthy materials. The sign over the door reads, Van P. McClellan, Jr. BSA Hut- Troop 144.

We were convinced that a google search of the name Van P. McClellan, Jr. would provide details about his being a scout troop leader, eagle scout, or someone very involved with Boy Scouts. Instead, the first thing that comes up is from the U.S. Patent Office. On Nov. 6, 1967, Van P. McClellan, Jr. of 608 Scott Avenue filed for a patent for the invention of a mop head.* If you know someone from Troop 144 please ask them how the building got its name. It is hard to believe that this beautiful little log cabin has stood the test of time and that it is hidden in plain view!

*reference, here.

Brown House

The little brown house at 2022 Walker Avenue looks so charming against the blue sky and the wildflower garden bordering the driveway. There is some mowed grass in the front, but it looks like the owners are making an effort to balance the mowing with some natural habitat. Also, the yard hints at an artist living there. While they are almost camouflage against the dark colors, metal sculptures are found throughout the property.

This three bedroom, one bathroom house was built in 1927. Located between Lindley Park and UNCG, surely, this place has seen a lot in its 90+ years. This neighborhood is very walkable and, if you get thirsty en route, you can stop at Bestway Grocery Store to refuel before continuing along your journey. On the day we drove by, a neighbor was relaxing in her hammock and very observant of the fact that we were taking a photo. How nice that the neighbor was making sure we weren't doing anything but looking!

First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro

First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro is as beautiful as any church you will find in Greensboro, in North Carolina, and maybe even in the United States. Built in 1928, the gothic revival architecture is reminiscent of  the churches of Europe. It also has a beautiful history with the first congregation dating back to 1824 and four of the original 12 members being slaves. Of course slavery is a terrible part of our country's narrative; however, that people were free to worship together was noteworthy. 

If you ever have a chance to attend, you will see that the inside is even more breathtaking than the outside. Preachers and congregants both have a way of staying put. So, the sermons, spirituality, and other activities of the church must be good. Have a great Sunday! Stop back tomorrow.

Tiny is the New BIG

Tucked into an unassuming lot at 4120 Causey Street in the Pamona neighborhood of west Greensboro are six tiny homes, A-F. This is the first tiny house community that the City of Greensboro has approved. In the era of large suburban homes, this little community reminds us that, at the end of the day, all we really need to live is a roof over our head, a place to fix warm meal, a way to get in out of the elements, and a place to sleep. As shared on their website (tinyhousesgreensboro.com), each has a living area, a kitchen with full sized appliances, one bedroom, and a bathroom. Five of the homes are 288 square feet and one is only 180 square feet.

The tiniest of the houses is the one on the right. It has the word "Weaver" on the door, because it was built by students at Weaver Academy, a Guilford County School. Students raised the money for the material, designed the home, and built it in one semester. What a great way for students to learn the engineering process, perform community service, and oversee a project from conceptualization to completion. Residents are excited because these houses represent a means of ensuring they not only have an affordable housing option, but one that is permanent. The thriving, community garden at the front of the lot that reminds us that while housing security is important, quality of life is made even better when there is a sense of community.

The City Daily Photo theme for August is black. The black trailer reminds us that there needs to be a way to get each home from the sight where it is built to here. See more theme day photos from around the world, here.

 

Tanger Center, Elm Street Side

 

Blink and the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts is up, at least great progress has been made. The above photo features the Elm Street side of the building, which has this magical feature where the reflection off of the building across the street almost looks like an ancient script. They could project some interesting projects, movies, sayings, etc. onto the side of the building.

This 85 million dollar 3,000 seat facility is scheduled to open in the spring. Do you have your tickets? Season ticket sales have been brisk. This will be a wonderful facility for Greensboro. Somebody appears to be interested as their Facebook page already has over 6,000 "likes" and the building isn't even complete. Stop by 300 North Elm Street and check out the progress, or check back here and we'll post more photos as progress is made.

Preservation Greensboro: Tour of Lindley Park

Preservation Greensboro offers free walking tours of historic neighborhoods in Greensboro. The above photo features the starting point for the tour of Lindley Park. On these tours, a docent gives a brief introduction to the history of the neighborhood, sharing its significance, lore, and most interesting points, and then commences to walking and talking. Homes with historical and or architectural significance are pointed out.

The Wednesday night tour drew almost fifty people, most of whom were not from Lindley Park. Many participants had been on one of the tours before. Standing on the bench on the right was Rebecca who did an excellent job of bringing the history of Lindley Park to life for the group. Learn more about Preservation Greensboro and their upcoming neighborhood tour schedule, here.

300 Cornwallis

 

This Old Irving Park house, located at 300 Cornwallis Drive is so full of southern charm. From columns, to topiaries to large front porch, to a great lawn, the property has so much street appeal. It was built in 1961, has over 5,000 square feet of living space, and a full basement. There is no shortage of space indoors and out.

When we feature homes in Greensboro, we often feature bungalow-esque properties or ones that maybe have fallen into disrepair, and may not be long for this world. However, especially to those from elsewhere, we don't want to misrepresent Greensboro. There are some breathtaking homes here. Greensboro residents take great pride in maintaining their green space. Our city comes by its name honestly. The above photo is representative of homes you will see as you enter Old Irving Park. Some are larger, some are smaller, but almost all of them make you want to grab a jug of sweet tea and a homemade pound cake and sit on the porch for the afternoon, chatting with dear friends.

Happy summer!

Tanger Center

Here you see crew working on the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. The photo was taking last week and, as you can see, they are making great progress. Tickets are now on sale for the general public and they are selling well. This venue will do to the performing arts and indoor performance what nearby LeBauer Park has done for outdoor performing and gatherings. For the Broadway series, the packages are really reasonable considering you get passes for free parking and you get to see such great productions. Locals will no longer need to drive to Durham or Charlotte to see the Broadway performances. 

If you are traveling to an appointment downtown, please allow a little extra time. There is so much construction, you can expect delays. However, be patient. Greensboro just keeps growing and getting more resources.

Happy Wednesday, the day before Thursday- which is the new Friday!

Wesley Memorial UMC

Yesterday was Pancake Day for the Kiwanis Club of High Point. Each year, the Kiwanians hold the event at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. This giant church is located at the corner of Westchester and Chestnut Drive in High Point. The elaborate architecture and the stone construction looks as much like a European building as one here in North Carolina. Wesley Memorial UMC began in a different High Point location, before the Civil War in 1856, with a congregation of 17, four of whom were African American.

It was a beautiful day for the event and, as it turns out, the family walking in was volunteering  for the event. Hats off to the mom who was able to get her four boys up and out on a Saturday morning to help with a community event. From the size of the crowd and the amount of pancakes and sausage being consumed, every indication is that the event was a huge success!

Our Lady of Grace Church School

Our Lady of Grace (OLG) Catholic Church, located at 2201 West Market Street,  looks very different in the front than the back. The front, made of pink granite, was designed to look like a Brooklyn, NY church, Our Lady of Refuge. OLG was built in the early 50s by Julian Price in loving memory of his wife Ethel. The back is a recent edition, looking much more modern.

The first church service was held in 1952 and the first school opened in 1953. Over the years, the school has continued to expand. Today, there are classes for children ages 3-15 with programs that differentiate instruction as needed. Tt the core of instruction is faith, living and learning in a way aligned with Catholicism. The above photo features the Chapman Street side, where classrooms are located. The white and beige building looks fabulous on sunny winter days. Have a fabulous Sunday, even if it the weather is somewhat different from what you see above.

St. Patricks Day in Downtown Greensboro

Just beyond yesterday's blossom and macro view from the parking lot of Deep Roots Co-op, today's view is of the growing crowd at the St. Patrick's event being held at Joymonger's on Saturday. The craft brewery is owned by Greensboro natives and you can tell that they pride themselves in seeing that the locals are happy. Saturday's gathering in this little park-let in front of Joymonger's attracted people of all ages.

From this vantage point, you can see Smith Street Diner, the Marriott, the Jefferson Pilot/Lincoln Financial building and more. It is always fun to identify the JP/Lincoln Financial building from many vantage points in town. Regarding vantage points, we have always wanted to admire Greensboro from the top of the JP Building. We're being told that getting to the top floor is no longer an option, not even for people who work there. For now, we'll just have to appreciate the Great Gatsby view, from afar.

VIVID Interiors at 513 South Elm Street

As the recent snow flurries fell, VIVID Interiors looked especially wintry with their dotted window design. They add quite a bit of vibrant color and charm to the 500 block of South Elm Street. The sculpture in the front is one of the many fiberglass pairs of jeans placed throughout the city. The unidentified man to the left just happened to be in the center with the door framing him at 513-B. 

Greensboro is fortunate that so many of the new businesses have maintained the integrity of the vintage buildings, as is the case at 513. We learned from Gina Hicks of VIVID Interiors that Mark Hewett from Area Modern Home was the person responsible for the revitalization of 513 (and 511) South Elm Street. Downtown Greensboro just seems to keep adding more and more to do and see. If you get to the 500 block, stop in to VIVID and see for yourself. Likely, you will see many things you would love to own!

Daas Mural

The public art scene has blossomed in Greensboro over the last two years, especially the addition of murals. The above mural was painted on the Bellemeade Street Parking Deck on North Elm Street on August 17, 2017. The 80-foot mural is one of two on the parking deck. The mural and the block party held to watch Daas paint this past summer is brought to us courtesy of City Arts and the Greensboro Participatory Budgeting Program.*

The bright strip of color with part of a face looking at northbound drivers reminds us to drive carefully. When the photo is compressed with a zoom lens and the foliage of trees is cut out, the resulting geometric shapes give Greensboro a big-city, urban feel. Do you like the look of all the murals? Do you have a favorite?

* reference and more information, here.

Evening Downtown Walking Tour

Last night, under the waxing gibbous moon, approximately fifty people were treated to a tour of downtown architecture. The host was Anderson, who works for Preservation Greensboro (based out of Blandwood Masion). The tour lasted almost an hour and a half. It began in front of the Green Bean in the South 300 block, progressed along Elm Street to West Washington Street, to North Elm and ended at the Jefferson Standard Building. The weather was perfect and the tour gave a good overview  of materials used in construction of the buildings, what style they represented, and how Greensboro evolved to meet the consumer needs of the day. One of the biggest surprises was that fact that many very accomplished architects have been involved in designing our downtown buildings.

We'll share more photos over the next couple of weeks and provide more details on some of these architectural points of interest. Especially interesting was the Brutalist movement from the 1960s and 1970s, giving us a whole new lens through which to view those solid-cement structures downtown. To be sure, Greensboro has many interesting buildings compressed into a small space. Additionally, there is a tendency to remove facades from later renovations and to return building to their original state. Thank you, Preservation Greensboro. Thank you, Anderson. 

Double Oaks

The Double Oaks Bed and Breakfast is located at 203 North Mendenhall Street on the edge of Westerwood, just north of Friendly Avenue. It was the gathering point for the Westerwood Tour that was offered by Preservation Greensboro. Unbeknown to anyone, including the Preservation Greensboro tour guide, Ben, we were given the opportunity to go inside and tour the bed and breakfast. The owner was on site and event planners were preparing for a wedding shower and it worked out perfectly for us to tour and move on before guests started arriving. 

The Colonial Revival mansion was completed in 1909 and owned by Harden Thomas Martin who moved to Greensboro from Rockingham County after a successful career owning and operating retail stores. Over the years, it has been a bed and breakfast previously and was owned at one time by Charles R. Forrester, Chairman of the Greensboro Historic District Commission. Double Oaks is one of those houses with great provenance. Presently, it is owned by James and Amanda Keith who welcome their guests, and even the public, with open arms. James told us on the Saturday tour that he envisions it being used in the manner it would have been when built; that people would come and stay a while, not just for a quick visit. To that end, on Wednesday evenings from 5:30- 8:00, you can stop by for something to drink. Wine and beer are on tap for $5 a pour. They have built a lovely stage in the corner of the lot for concerts. If you come out this week, you could stop by Double Oaks and then head to the Green Bean at 341 South Elm Street for Preservation Greensboro's free walking tour of Center City North.

Thanks to people like the Keiths, organizations like Preservation Greensboro, and GDP readers like YOU, our city just keeps getting better and better!

620 South Elm Street

Yesterday's post featured the Kotis property, 3 acres at the northwest corner of Eugene and Gate City Boulevard. Today's post takes you one block over to the 1.6 acre property on the northwest corner of South Elm Street at Gate City Boulevard. The building is part of the Old Greensborough office complex space that forms an L at the corner. Built in 1920, the building initially was the home of Blue Bell Overall Company. 620 Corp. has owned it since the 1980's. Developer Andy Zimmerman now has the property.*

As seen in the photo below, the Elm Street part of the building has been gutted and is being renovated. To our knowledge, it isn't yet being disclosed what will go in the building. One possibility discussed is office space, but it has also been suggested that it may house a grocery store, possibly a Trader Joe's. A grocery store would help greatly as the southern part of town is somewhat of a food desert. With over 53,000 square footage of space, there is plenty of room. According to Wikipedia, most Trader Joe's average between 10,000 and 15,000 square feet and have the highest sales per square foot of any grocer in the United States.

*Reference and more information, here. (Click on the photo below to enlarge it).

Hillside, the Julian Price Home

This past weekend, Preservation Greensboro held a fundraising tour of homes in the Fisher Park neighborhood. The above photographed house, aptly named Hillside, was originally built as the private residence for the Julian Price family.* Mr. Price was Chairman of the Board of Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company. Price hired architect Charles Hartmann to built the corporate tower of the Jefferson Standard building. downtown. Hartman also designed Hillside. The English Tudor/Period Revival home was constructed in 1928-1929. The expansive home has many interesting architectural details: Herringbone brick, chimneys, Tudor timbered accents, gables, dormers, and landscape walls, to name a few.

Eric and Michael Fuko-Rizzo have recently purchased the property, cleared the house of its filled-to-the-brim load, and have begun renovating it. It was featured on the tour this past weekend and looked quite different than it did on the Arts and Entertainment Hoarders show.  Much work remains to be done and not many rooms were open for the tour. However, there will be a designer showcase in 2018 that will feature the house in its renovated splendor. The most surprising feature of the home is that is is long, but thin. It is only one room wide, which means that there are windows on both sides of the room. It can feel like walking an entire city block getting from the northern-most to southern-most room. If you ever get a chance to tour this historic home, please do so.

Happy Thursday, dear readers!

 

* reference & read more about Price, here.

JL Sawyer House

Today rounds out our Tour of Historic Homes in Oak Ridge. Above is the J. L. Sawyer House, built in 1919 and, like the Whitaker house down the street, also in National Folk style.  It also has two external chimneys. This architecture, however, differs from the house featured yesterday in that the Sawyer house has a double-sloped gambrel roof and side-gabled carriage porch. If you enlarge the photo, you will notice the stone foundation. During the 1930's the Black Lantern Tea Room was also located on this site.

According to the historic marker at the road, Mr. Sawyer was a barber at Oak Ridge Military Institute (its early 20th century name). You can imagine that the barber at the military institute was kept busy, subjecting cadets to those first haircuts.

Mill House Maple Street

This house on Maple Street is located in the backyard of Revolution Mill and in the Cone Mills neighborhood. Built in 1941, this 798 sq.ft. home is typical of the mill houses in the mill communities. An overwhelming majority of employees in the textile mills lived in the mill villages. The company supplied the homes and many community resources, including schools. All the tenants had to do was supply mill workers, usually one per occupied room.* Today, these mill houses are privately owned and many of the mills have closed or been repurposed.

With all of the new occupants at Revolution Mill, this part of East Greensboro is experiencing a great revival. Let's hope the sense of community that characterized the mill villages remains and that people sit on those front porches, play music (actual instruments, not downloaded playlists), and have great conversations with one another. Great things are happening in Greensboro and the tiny house movement is making these small houses more appealing than ever.

*reference, here.

Revolution Mill Meets WAM!

The repurposing of the 520,000 sq. ft. Revolution Mill is transforming the 19-acre property from a 20th century textile mill to a 21st century cultural hub of apartments, restaurants, gallery space, offices, and more. The above photo is 123 Gallery 1250 is located downstairs in Revolution Mill. The gallery walls, by artist James Marshall, represent the first of many collaborative endeavors between UNCG's Weatherspoon Art Gallery (WAM) and Revolution Mill. 

The three square photos below provide additional examples of the beauty of the space. The red spiral staircase near the gallery is reminiscent of a Mondrian painting and are a prelude to the geometry of the gallery.

Construction and design elements are being done with great consideration to honor the original features of the building. It is obvious that investors care about aesthetics and are willing to purchase materials that are durable. The cool palate in Marshall's geometric walls accentuate the signature red used throughout the building. Good design is making a difference. We encourage you to take one of the free, Monday evening tours. 

A Westerwood Beauty & the Beauty of Westerwood

This single-family home with the stone façade is a Greensboro beauty. When the sunlight shines through the trees it takes on a magical character, a bit of European charm. Built in 1932, the home is located on Crestland Avenue, in the heart of the Westerwood neighborhood. Westerwood is one of Greensboro's early, planned neighborhoods, dating to the early 20th century. Westerwood still holds its charm today, attracting artists, musicians, university professors, and other creative folks.

If you want to enjoy the beauty of the neighborhood, consider a Saturday walk or bike ride around its streets. It is located behind Friendly Avenue Baptist Church, beside Greenhill Cemetery, and just off Benjamin Parkway.  If you want to get to know its visual and performing artists, mark your calendar for their October 1st "Art and Sole" event. On the first Saturday of October, artists open their studios, offering paintings and pottery for sale to the public. If you hope to live in this neighborhood, good luck, because the houses don't come on the market very often and when they do, they often sell to friends of friends. Happy Saturday!