Greensboro Daily Photo

1899 Depot Coming Soon!

The Southern Railways, 1899 Depot, is being brought back to life and  is something we've all been waiting for. If you go downtown for the Festival of Lights this Friday, December 1st, have a look at this building as you cross the railroad tracks at 400 South Elm Street. If you peek to the left, you can see the railroad tracks running along the building. Trains come by here all day long, so it will be important for the building to be structurally sound and as soundproof as reasonable.

The above building was only used for 28 years as a train railway when, in 1927, it was replaced by the station on East Washington Street. In an WFMY2 News article from early summer, Downtown Greensboro Inc. President Zach Matheny mentions that the hope the restored building will have a restaurant, bar, and social space inside. Given the fact the building is 124 years old, it remains in remarkably good shape- at least what we can see on the exterior. See this link for a view of how the building looked back when it was a train station. We love the way Greensboro makes an effort to respect the history of the downtown's architectural footprint, knowing that updates are needed for a space to be 21st century relevant.

Happy Tuesday!

Moravia Moravian Church of Oak Ridge

 

Last week, in preparing a post about the First Moravian Church of Greensboro, we were searching for more Moravian history in the Greensboro area. In searching, we were actually directed to the Greensboro Daily Photo post (4/3/22) about the Moravia Moravian Church in Oak Ridge (see HERE). Moravia Moravian, located at 2920 Oak Ridge Road, was started by Jennie Donnell, who had been a Methodist, but adopted her husband's faith upon marrying Robin Kerner in the late 1800s. The original church was a wooden structure. In 1964, a brick church was constructed to replace the wooden one and held its first service on Christmas Eve. The property has an ample yard with a play area for children, a covered picnic shelter, a cemetery and a new columbarium. 

Since last year's photo featured the exterior, we thought we'd share an interior view of the church. The stained glass windows add great visual interest. We wanted to feature the Moravians again because this Friday and Saturday are the big Candle Tea days for the Moravian Church at 304 South Elam Avenue. This tea has been a Greensboro tradition since 1962. There will be music in the sanctuary, a putz, arts and crafts, and plenty of people to answer any questions you may have. See the schedule HERE. 

Happy Sunday!

First Moravian Church of Greensboro

This past week was the birthday of the Moravian Church in North Carolina. In 1752, the Moravians purchased 99,000 acres in North Carolina which would become Forsyth County and Bethabraba. Bethabraba was founded November 17, 1753. A Moravian church was first established in Greensboro on October 5, 1908. The above photo features the First Moravian Church Greensboro on Elam Avenue. Initially, the congregation met on Lee Street (now Gate City Boulevard).  The congregation moved to Elam in 1937 in a facility they called "the hut".  According to the cornerstone on the above building, the first church erected on this site was in 1948, and the building you see above was erected in 1984.

We are entering the season when the Moravian church will hold all of their Christmas events, most of which are well attended by the Greensboro community at large. The candlelight tea, the displaying of the putz, and the holiday market will be Friday, December 1st and Saturday, December 2nd. If you haven't experienced these events, we urge you to do to. See more, HERE.

Happy Sunday!

The Arc of Greensboro and High Point

The Arc of Greensboro began in 1953, and in High Point in 1957. It is a grassroots organization started by the parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.A large part of the early years of the organization was dedicated to advocacy and educating the community at large about the potential of this special population. It is incorporated as a 501 (c) (3) that gets grants  from many organizations; however, they also have fundraisers.

This evening, The Arc of High Point will have their annual art auction. It is a silent auction of art painted by program participants throughout the year. You can attend in person at The Art Gallery at Congdon Yards (400 West English Road, Suite 151) from 6:00- 7:30 pm, or you can actually bid online. Get tickets HERE. The above photo features three pieces of art on the wall of The Arc School and it is very likely these pieces will be for sale tonight. Hats off to their art teacher, Liz McKinnon, who determines the theme for the evening and help students hone their art skills all year long. Liz has a way of bringing the inner artist out of her students. From Greensboro to High Point and all the corners of Guilford County, events like this have a way of bring people together. They remind us that all people who live here are part of our village. The theme this year is Art Eternal.

Happy Wednesday!

West February 1 Place in Downtown Greensboro

West February 1 Place is a a small street tucked between Elm and Greene Streets, leading to Governmental Plaza and The Guilford County Courthouse. February 1, 1960 is the day of the Sit-Ins at the Woolworth lunch counter. Other than the artwork on the street, with the Rolex clock and the buildings, this street is a real step back in time. It is the site of many pop-ups and a spill-over space for other events. Such was the case this past weekend when there were different booths on the street during Greensboro Pride. There is so much history on this corner as well as some powerful artwork.

The Cup of Freedom cup of coffee sculpture is on this street, just out of camera range. At the very end of the street, what looks like a tiny arch, is the upper part of the Millennium Gate by  local sculptor, Jim Gallucci. Street scenes remind us that it is the people that make a community great.

Happy Wednesday!

Denim History and Samples at Revolution Mill

If you haven't been to Revolution Mill and you care about the history of textiles in Greensboro, you owe it to yourself to stop by Revolution Mill and have a look at all of the machinery related to Greensboro's textile industry. Also, you will find information about denim. At one time, Greensboro was the top producer of denim in the world. You can learn what makes denim blue, including the chemical composition (the ring dye effect). There are so many machines and denim samples. Revolution Mill was a textile factory that was opened by the Cone Brothers in 1898   Revolution Mill has been repurposed and has many parts open to the public. Access is easy from the Cugino Forno side of the former factory. There is so much to see, especially on the first floor.

Next week, we will share information about Hirsch Wellness Network and their online art auction which is currently underway. The above exhibit is just down the hall from Hirsch. As a matter of fact, the unidentified musician in the above photo was walking to Hirsch to perform for an event on Thursday night. Saturday is a good day to mill about at Revolution, located at  1,000 Revolution Mill Drive.

Happy Saturday!

Chalkware Vignette by Lori Gray

Tis fair season. The Central Carolina Fair in Greensboro, a tradition since 1898, closed yesterday. The NC State Fair opens Thursday, October 12th in Raleigh. It will be full of exhibits and carnival rides and games. For years, chalkware was de rigeur at carnivals- from the early 1900s to the 1950s. Before stuffed animals were prizes, chalkware pieces were given to those whose carnival game skills merited a prize. The above collection is on display at Antique Market Place on Burnt Poplar Road. Lori Gray assembled the collection into this wonderful vignette. With the top piece with lights and the drapes, it is as if you are at a carnival and get to select your prize from the lot. However, the collection is being sold together, not piece by piece. 

Lori is a master vignette artist and nostalgia maker. She has a booth at the Antique Market Place and has a way of taking seemingly disparate items and pulling them together into a picture perfect scenes that evoke memories: Being in grandma's kitchen; hanging out in the living room of a dear family friend; sitting in a mod kitchen; preparing for a day of fun and games; and on, and on. We went this weekend just to visit this staging of her chalkware. Some lucky person will leave with a mighty fine collection. There is everything from the original kewpie dolls to Disney figures. We're wondering how many of these were won at the Central Carolina Fair. If you are local, head out and see this collection. The fair may have left town, but the collection is still here! Never again will you see so many pieces of chalkware in one place at one time! 

Happy Monday!

Happy First Day of School- 2023-2024

For students in traditional schools in Guilford County, today is the first day of the 2023-2024 school year. The photo we've chosen for the opening of school is the signage on the Cornwallis Drive side of Irving Park Elementary. As you can see, the school was established in 1923, making this year its centenary anniversary. The main entrance to the school is on the Sunset Drive side of the building, but the back is the main pick up and drop off site and the side with this visible sign with the date. The school is named in honor of the residential development surrounding the school, Irving Park. The "Irving" in the Irving Park neighborhood and school, was the father of Alfred Moore Scales. Mr. Scales, who was the nephew of a North Carolina governor, named the neighborhood for his father, Irving Scales. Mr. Scales owned the land on which the country club, a gold course, and a restricted residential area was located. One hundred years of teaching and learning has taken place at Irving Park Elementary! Here's to a great school year. Hopefully, they will have a big celebration, possibly even a homecoming for former students, teachers, and administrators.

Happy 100th IPES and Happy Monday!

 

Black Patriots of Revolution

The above photo features the GTA bus that honors the Black men who fought at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. These were men who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary Battle in Guilford County. The bus operates across routes citywide. If you want to learn more about the research that went into uncovering the story of the experiences of enslaved and free people of color at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. It is fascinating to learn how people of Greensboro come together to research information and bring history to light. This video is over an hour long and even if you don't watch the video, it is nice to know that information gets archived. So from an idea to the process of researching the Black men who participated to putting this history on a bus for all to see has been a lengthy process that came to fruition this summer. 

If you are looking for something to do as summer wanes, spend some time at the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park and try to learn more about the people whose names are found on this bus. Happy Tuesday!

Va Opossum

With the extended hours of daylight in the summer and the full moon this week, wild animals have been busy. We took this photo earlier in the summer, but we see animals in our yard all the time. This Virginia opossum was out exploring and dashed into a the above hole when he saw us coming. Likely, a groundhog actually lives there. Opossums keep neighborhoods clear of cockroaches, ticks, and small rodents. They love eating ticks and help cut down on Lyme disease. They are even known to eat venomous snakes. Opossums are marsupials and carry their young in a pouch. Likely, those babies in your Greensboro yard were born earlier in the summer and are old enough to live on their own now. Please be kind to them. They won't bother you in any way. In an online search, we learned that the Virginia opossum has been in North Carolina since the Pleistocene Period- also known as the Ice Age and lasting from 2.58 million to 11,700 years ago. Wow!

Happy Thursday!

On Suburban Cycling, Revolution Mill, and Greensboro's Population Growth

Last night's group bike ride, the one that starts and finishes at Cycles D'Oro, took the group to Revolution Mill at Yanceyville Street. The mill opened in 1898 by Moses and Caesar Cone and is quite an impressive east Greensboro landmark. It was also a good, off-road stopping point for the cyclists, many of whom are novice riders. The mill is quite successfully being repurposed as a mixed-use complex. As the cyclists took a water break, they got briefed about the second half of the 10 mile ride. One of the ride facilitators pointed out the water tower across from the mill, up on Textile Drive. He informed us that the water tower is on one of the highest elevations in that neighborhood, and we needed to get our bike in the lowest gear BEFORE heading up that hill.

Along the way, one of the riders started talking about the population of Greensboro and how it increased in the 1960s. That prompted us to look that up as soon as we got home. According to the Wikipedia timeline of Greensboro (see HERE), Greensboro's population was 74,389 in 1950. By 1960, it was 119, 574. That is an increase of over 45,000 people, about 60%. By 1970, Greensboro's population was 144,076, an increase of 25,000 or about 21%. Many of the Greensboro's houses, including the ones on the ever-steep Textile Drive, were built in the 1960s. Some of us decided to return to look around when we weren't concentrating on shifting gears and powering through a very tough hill. Oh the great thoughts being around others evokes.

Happy Wednesday!

True Family Home; 507 Chapman Street- Gone, But Not Forgotten!

As of yesterday afternoon, just before 5:00 pm, this was all that was left of the little blue house on Chapman Street, the place where Jack True made holidays come to life for generations of Greensboro's children.*  His years of playing Santa Claus on the porch were epic. Now, with only signs of the foundation remaining, you can see that this house had a tiny, tiny footprint. Built in 1935, it had two bedrooms and one bathroom. According to Zillow, the lot is .19 of an acre and it sold on 2/23/23 for $79,000. Unless it was rezoned or additional property acquired, it will accommodate a single family dwelling of 3,529 square feet.

This is a very desirable neighborhood between Lindley Park, Sunset Hills, and UNCG. It will be interesting to see what gets built. There are those breathing a sigh of relief that the house with only a wood stove for a heat source and a leaky, tarped roof is gone. A new structure will serve to improve this corner of the neighborhood. However, there are those who know that sometimes houses with the tiniest of footprints are home to people with the biggest hearts. Such was the case at 507 Chapman Street.

* see here, a Greensboro Daily Photo of the house when it was still standing.

Jimmie I. Barber

Jimmie I. Barber * served the Greensboro City Council for twelve years, from 1969- 1981, which, at the time made him the longest serving black member in Greensboro. Barber Park, located between East Gate City Boulevard and Florida Street, was dedicated, renamed Barber Park, in 1989. It had first been known as Southeast Park. 

The sculptor of the above bust of Mr. Barber is Maria J. Kirby-Smith who finished she sculpture in 1990.  The position of the extended hand, ready for a handshakes, suggests community engagement, the gesture of a gentleman; something that likely helped keep Mr. Barber in office for so many years. According to the above plaque, he was the "people's man" who "belonged to all the people." Contributions to this bronze bust were made by the Greensboro Jaycees, Las Amigas, and The City of Greensboro. The monument is located near the sports building at the bottom of the hill. With the landscaping around it, it is easier to find while walking or on a bicycle. Challenge yourself to find it the next time you are at Barber Park.

Happy Tuesday!

 

• See Mr. Barber's photo, here.
• Learn more about Greensboro's parks in this Our State Magazine article from June 2022.

Women of the Shoah

Shoah in Hebrew means "catastrophe" and specifically the six million Jews in Europe killed by Nazi Germany. The above memorial monument is meant to serve as a place of reflection and learning. It is meant to inform and educate. "To that end, Women of the Shoah will be creating on-site placemaking public programs for students, residents and visitors a the memorial monument in the coming months. A curriculum has been developed in conjunction with the North Carolina Council on the Holocaust and the State's Department of Public Instruction and will be included in the new Holocaust curriculum at the state level." This information was taken directly off of the back page of the program during the April 18th dedication of the above monument in LeBauer Park. (See www.WomenoftheShoahJP.org for more information).

One of our faithful readers brought it to our attention that the monument is not getting much local press and she expressed an interest in knowing exactly where it was placed downtown. Perhaps this view helps clarify. Directly through the trees, on the left, are Cafe Europa and the Cultural Arts Center. Due left would be the public library. The people to the right are reading information available by clicking on the QR codes around the area. Truly, this site is an educational experience. The curriculum, once developed, will be powerful. We hope people come from far around to learn about this dark period in world history. We hope you get a chance to see it.

Have a great Tuesday!

The Bear Witness Camera

Last Tuesday, April 18, 2023, people came out in droves for the dedication of the Holocaust sculpture in LeBauer Park. The focus is understandably on the four women and one child standing, waiting for their inevitable death courageously. However, just beyond the women is a bronze camera that represents the reason the women were immortalized together. A Nazi photographer was documenting, one photo at a time, the murder of a group of people hated for their religion. The above photo shows installation day with people interacting with "She Wouldn't Take Off Her Boots" through the lens of the Nazi photographer. The bronze camera is called "The Bear Witness Camera" and is placed there by the Manning Kaplan family "In honor of Congresswoman for leading the fight against antisemitism, racism, and injustice."

Notice all of the hands in this photo. The “photographer’s” left hand is visible through the camera lens. His right hand is holding the hand of another. The woman to the right is clinging to her mobility scooter with her hand. The dominant feature surrounding the camera is hands. Hands can be destructive and evil, as with the case of the Nazis, including the Nazi who would have been taking this photo.  Also, hands can do so much good.

We join hands to connect with each other;  we cook, eat, and create things with our hands; we support ourselves with with our hands; we pray with our hands; we welcome new life from the womb with our hands. Hands are such a window into our thoughts. The hands in this photo tell us that on this afternoon in April, the people of Greensboro were coming together, joining hands, to support people in pain and to hope to live in a world where we use our hands only for the best of deeds.

On a related topic- hands; the first place for writing in O. Henry Magazine is published in the current issue. The title is "What Are You Going To Do With Your Hands?" by McCabe Coolidge. Be prepared to shed a tear.

Happy Monday!

Holocaust Monument Dedication

Yesterday ws a very special day. First, it was Yom Hashorah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Second, the Greensboro community installed a monument dedicated to the women and children who endured or perished in the Holocaust. The monument, created by artist Victoria Carlin Milstein features five women; one older, one a child, and three young adults. Originally from New York,  Victoria Carlin Milstein now lives and works in Greensboro. Her studio is located at 517 South Elm Street. The above statue now resides in Carolyn's Garden in LeBauer Park in  honor of Carolyn LeBauer- for whom the park and garden are named. The sculpture is very representative of Carlin Milstein's work, with haunting expressions of Jewish women and children. As Ian McDowell of "Yes Weekly" reminds us, this sculpture, called "She Wouldn't Take Off Her Boots," * is North Carolina's first Holocaust Memorial. The Jewish community has been contributing significantly to the Greensboro community (and North Carolina) since the 1800s and remains flourishing, vibrant, and impactful today. It is due time a monument was installed.

Memorial candles were lit, in remembrance of these 5 in the sculpture and the others who died during the Holocaust. At today's dedication, it was mentioned that over 6,000,000 Jewish people were killed during the Holocaust, roughly the same number residing in the United States today. Mayor Nancy Vaughn dedicated the monument. Victoria and Ron Milstein and Shelly Weiner and Rachel Kizhnerman unveiled the monument. The Multi-Cultural Choir sang "Standing on the Shoulders" a moving song that honors forefathers. As hinted in the above photo, yesterday's crowd was large, but orderly. If you weren't able to attend this special event, you will have plenty of time to head to LeBauer Park and see the monument. You will see a bronze camera pointing at the monument, reminding us that the sculpture was designed from a photo a Nazi photographer took to document the killings. Also, there are QR codes all around the garden where you can hear Holocaust stories from people of Greensboro.

*the title of the sculpture comes from the fact that the older woman in the middle was still wearing her boots, even as the Nazis required the women to disrobe before being shot.

College Hill Sundries Interior

Recently, we posted an exterior view of College Hill Sundries. In case you haven't been side, here is an interior view. After a few visits, it is the kind of an everybody-knows-your-name sort of place. It is located at 900 Spring Garden Street, at the corner of Mendenhall Street. The establishment has been open for over 40 years and if you look around, it looks like not much has changed from yesteryear. The establishment is larger than it appears as in the back there is a pool table and more space for people to stand around. 

According to Triad City Beat, owner Jason Paul is part owner of Westerwood Tavern and Hops Burger Bar. Keep your out for special events held there. They are a perfect opportunity to visit the establishment and have a look around, especially if you don't just want to sit and have a brew. It has been such an anchor business in College Hill, a neighborhood that has been designated a historic district since 1980.

Happy midweek, almost April!

College Hill Sundries

College Hill Sundries is located at 900 Spring Garden Street at South Mendenhall. Most people know the corner establishment from the iconic Pepsi sign painted on the South Mendenhall side. See our post from 2009 (HERE- 14 years ago!!!), and you will see the Pepsi sign. We like this photo from yesterday because it shows what a dynamic place this neighborhood bar is. First, you see the "WILD FREE" hand-painted sign on the wooden, corner door. We believe that that is from the artists' pop up held there yesterday. On the left, you see one of the artists showing his work. Above his head, you see the "bike lane" sign, an important features for a college neighborhood. On the right, is a masseuse giving a massage at the special event. Finally, the sun was very bright yesterday and formed an arc over the middle of the photo. To the very right, you can see someone sitting at the bar. The place was hopping. From patrons to bartenders to vendors, everyone seemed in a cheerful mood. 

It took a little internet sleuthing and a some math to figure out when College Hill Sundries opened as a bar. In a News & Record article from 12/12/2001, we saw a reference to the King family who turned the location from a drugstore to a bar "19 years ago", which, since the article was written in 2001, would mean the bar opened in 1982, making it 41 years old this December! College Hill Sundries had its years as a dive bar with bathrooms that were barely tolerable. As explained in the 2001 article and verified by us yesterday, the bathrooms have been upgraded and  the beer selections modernized. From that same era (2001), the magazine "Men's Journal" listed College Hill  as one of the 50 best bars in America. The only bar in North Carolina to receive recognition in the publication. Oh the things one can happen upon, merely driving around town. 

We hope to see an add for the next pop up. If you are a vendor, you may want to inquire within to see about getting a spot.

Happy Monday!

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2023

Happy St. Patrick's Day. Greensboro will be awash with all things green, especially green libations for adults interested in partaking.*  As for us, we are out with our trusty canine looking for leprechauns and pots of gold. So far, all we have only managed to find is a little green man on a manhole cover. He has been painted green by the utility company. Do you think that is a hint treasure is nearby?  We have written about manhole covers twice on Greensboro Daily Photo; once in 2012 when we dug into the history of the Pomona Foundry that used to be in Greensboro and made manhole covers (see here). If our research is correct, they were acquired by Acme Castings left and moved from Greensboro (Pomona area near West Market and Spring Garden Streets) in 1969.

The second time we featured manhole covers was just about a year ago, when we were navigating the During-COVID- Era (DCE?) and wrote about the manhole rubbings done by Vito Ciccone (see here). That is an interesting post, if you haven't read it already. There, you can see that the above manhole cover design says "City of Greensboro North Carolina 1808" and you will realize the man in the middle is General Nathanael Greene, not a leprechaun. Do you have any manhole covers near where you live or walk? If so, look at what they say on them. We're wondering if any new covers are still cast with "Greensboro" or "Pomona" on them. What do the new ones say? These manhole covers weigh from 90-250 pounds. Do you know why they are round? Because the circle shape prevents them from ever being able to collapse inside!

Enough about manhole covers. We think we'll head over to M'Coul's Public House on West McGee Street downtown and have one of their (what we call) Irish meal bites: Deep fried, wonton wrapped corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots.

Happy Friday! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 

* See here for these adult events.

Dr Alvin Blount, Mural on South Elm Street

Thursday was such a warm day in Greensboro, at 81ºF, the warmest February 23rd on record. After the afternoon shower, the sky brightened up again. On our trek along the 600 block of South Elm Street, we ran across this mural to Dr. Alvin Blount. As you can see, there is a bust and to the right, a THKU which presumably is a "thank you" to a man who did so much for integrating the hospital system in Greensboro. Dr. Blount was one of 10 plaintiffs in the 1962 Simkins vs. Moses H. Cone lawsuit in which it was determined that federal dollars for public facilities should not be used to discriminate. 

Blount was from Raleigh, NC, but attended N.C. A&T in Greensboro. To learn more about this inspirational person, who was the first black surgeon to work at Moses Cone and who practiced medicine until the end of his life, see HERE. Dr. Alvin Vincent Blount died on January 6, 2017. Thank you for all you did to make a difference in the world, Dr. Blount!

If you want to see the mural, head to the east side of the 600 block of South Elm Street. We're not sure who created the mural. Do you know? The mural has, to the left, " Dr. Blount, Cone Hospital @ 1.4.4.0. It is a lovely addition to downtown.

Happy Saturday!

Diebold Safe on Display at Red Collection

Today's photo is of the Diebold safe on view, but not for sale, at The Red Collection on Mill Street. Diebold started making safes in the mid-1800s. Do you remember those Saturday trips to town and to the bank, when all of those downtown businesses had a big safe? They are so heavy and secure, usually made of a steel alloy, sometimes weighing as much as 1,600 pounds. These devices really did seem so safe, impenetrable and impervious to fire. The painting on some make them look like a work of art. 

These are the kinds of things we come across, that cause to remember and reminisce as we are on our outings and urban explorations. This weekend, go out and have a look for yourself, at this safe at The Red Collection, or anything else that evokes yesteryear. Let us know what you find. We're wondering just how long the above safe will be on display and where on earth they would put it if they needed to get rid of it. Just think, in 150 years, these safes have gone from invaluable to almost obsolete... as societies move away from being cashless.

Happy Saturday!

Friedens Tiny Chapel

If you read Greensboro Daily Photo last Sunday, you saw the post on Frieden Lutheran Church, located on Frieden Church Road in the eastern end of Guilford County. The congregation has owned the property and has had a church there since 1775. The church started out as one made out of hand-hewn logs and then built a brick church in 1879. The church burned in 1939, and another was built in its place. In the background, you can see the latest iteration of Frieden Lutheran (see also, HERE). 

The Wagoners, church members, used the logs from the original church for a smokehouse. When they dismantled the smokehouse, they gave the logs from the original church back to the church. In 1961, church member Roland Summers recruited the young adult Sunday school members to use the timbers to help build a tiny chapel that was a replica of the original church from the 1700s. You can see the tiny hand-hewn log chapel in the foreground. Inside are pews and an altar from the past. This is a church that takes its documentation seriously. You can learn more by going to the article we referenced. Also, we highly recommend your keeping records of any organizations with which you are affiliated.

Happy Sunday!

 

*Reference and more  history of the church can be found HERE.

Fridens Evangelical Lutheran Church

Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 6001 NC 61 in Gibsonville,  was organized in 1745, thirty one years before America was a country. The church was rebuilt in 1939 after a fire destroyed the original building. However, this church community is 278 years old this year. To put this into perspective, Luther began the Protestant movement in 1517 and Frieden Church was built in 1745, 228 years after the Protestant movement began. So, it is closer in years to the beginning of the Protestant movement than it is to the year 2023. This historic church is recorded as one of the oldest of its denomination in the south. The church, founded by German Lutheran immigrants heading west, even maintained church records in German until 1830.*

We stumbled on Friedens Lutheran while riding around the urban loop I-840 this weekend, getting off on Huffine Mill Road, and driving the backroads through Guilford County to Gibsonville. The  church is at the crossroads of NC-61 and Frieden Church Road. Frieden is derived from a German word that means peace and tranquility. Walking around the property of the church, the cemetery, and the small replica of the original church located across the street, indeed, brings a sense of peace and tranquility. While the eastern end of Guilford is changing,  this little slice of county make it feel like time is standing still. 

You can tell from the photo that the white columns at the entrance are a dominant feature. However, the stained glass windows are also very special. Have a great Sunday!

 

*reference and more information HERE.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Today is a federal holiday in recognition of the Martin Luther King Jr.   Dr. King was a spokesperson for nonviolent activism, and his work for the Civil Rights Movement in the United States is given special recognition on the third Monday of January every year. Today is meant to be a day of community service and civic engagement, and in Greensboro there are many opportunities to make it one. There is a (sold out) breakfast at the Khoury Convention Center; the parade starts downtown at 11:00 am. Another event, hosted from 2:30- 4:00 pm at the International Civil Rights Center & Museum at 134 South Elm Street today, is a program by Dr. Will Harris entitled "Beyond, and Better Than, "DEMOCRACY." 

The above photo was taken during an event at the museum during the Festival of Lights in downtown Greensboro on December 2nd, 2022. LaShon Hill was singing in front of a mural of the Greensboro Four: David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair Jr. (Jibreel Khazan), Joe McNeil. Her performance was well received. The museum, in collaboration with NC A & T, UNCG, Bennett College, and Guilford College,  is hosting a speaker series this February and the lineup is fabulous: Al Sharpton, Andrew Young, Johnnetta Cole, and James Lawson. Between this speaker series and the Bryan Series, Greensboro is getting many memorable speakers this year. Having five institutions of higher education in our city is truly special. 

Happy Monday! How will you be spending the day?

And So Begins Year 15 on Greensboro Daily Photo

 

 

 

And so begins Year 15 on Greensboro Daily Photo (GDP). We never dreamed, when beginning this endeavor on January 2, 2009, we would still be at this venture a decade and a half later; that's over 5,000 photos of Greensboro floating around the internet as a result of our blog. With the rise of Instagram and Tik Tok, you may think that blogging is decreasing; however, market trends show that it continues to rise (reference). Using apps like Twitter to lead people to GDP has proven beneficial; people are still reading. With the waning of print journalism, and the popularity of searching the internet for hometown news, our mom and pop,  all-volunteer, community-service effort is gaining in popularity. Some weeks, we wonder what on earth we will publish. However, something always seems to pop up. Serendipitously, we meet a new person or discover a new place and the post almost writes itself. In preparing yesterday's year-in-review post, we realized we've documented a lot of changes in Greensboro for 2022: New construction like the parking deck on Davie Street; the tearing down of the house on Battleground at British Woods, in preparation for new retail and a mixed-use project; the installation of great art on the Downtown Greenway; growth in East Greensboro; and more. With the passing of time, photos and paragraphs you never expect to serve as archival sources become so. 

The above photo taken of us, David and Janis, affectionately known as "Mr. and Mrs. Greensboro Daily Photo", was taken inside an interactive art exhibit at the Fine Art Museum in Santiago de Chile (by a random teen with great photography skills). We never seem to take the time to get a photograph of the two of us in Greensboro. We are always out photographing other people, places, and events. However, we are drawn to the above photo because it represents our love of life, adventure, each other, and our commitment to lifelong learning. We endeavor to bring that same zest to the Greensboro community- daily.

We wish you a happy 2023, and, as long as you keep reading, we will commit to bringing you a photo and paragraph a day about the city we call home!

Magnolia House: Interior View

Magnolia house, located at 422 Gorrell Street, is so important to Greensboro's history. It was built in 1890, but during the height of the Jim Crow era, Magnolia House gained special importance as a Green Book hotel. African Americans could stay here safely; guests would stay and often take a shoebox lunch with them as food on the road could be hard to come by. Today, Magnolia House again has lodgers, prepares meals, and educates groups about the history of the house. The signage throughout tells of prominent African Americans who stayed there, like Ike and Tina Turner and Jackie Robinson.  Magnolia House has special events; you can book weddings, music events, and more. It is quickly becoming a special destination in Greensboro.

The above photo features one of the downstairs rooms. The interior decorating was done by Gina Hicks and Laura Mensch of Vivid Interiors on South Elm Street. *  They brought their special flair while collaborating closely with property manager, Natalie Miller, whose father Samuel Pass owned Magnolia House. Above is an example of way Hicks and Mensch  respected the integrity of the architecture, leaving the fireplace, chair rails, high ceilings, yet brought a very elegant and glamorous look to the rooms. The wallpaper, gold light fixture, and mirror as a show stopping combination. Each of the six bedrooms are uniquely decorated.

The Christmas event at Magnolia House sold out; there doesn't appear to be a New Year's Eve event open to the public. However, check their schedule to see when a room is available and how you can order a shoebox lunch, or schedule a tour. Truly, this is a special piece of Greensboro's history. See more HERE. If you've never seen an exterior view, here is when we featured it in 2021.

Happy Thursday!

 

* read O. Henry Magazine article HERE.

Design Archives, Located at 342 S Elm St.

Design Archives Vintage and Handmade Emporium is a shop full of smaller shops. Design Archives, owned by Kit Rodenbough,  has been in downtown Greensboro since 2001. When we were downtown on Friday for the Festival of Lights, we noticed that the sign above the shop windows still has the advertisement for the previously store, Ellenberg and Shaffer Glass Art Studio. Ellenberg and Shaffer made leaded and stained glass windows. However, they have long moved on and are now located in Norfolk, Virginia. Also evident from the tile entranceway is the reminder that the building formerly housed Coble Hardware. Before that,  the building was Greensboro Hardware. It dates to the early 20th century. Downtown Greensboro is so ripe for having someone research the history and provenance of these wonderful, historic  buildings. So much of Greensboro's history can be unearthed by researching these buildings, businesses, and occupants. Perhaps we should interview Kit and see what she knows about this building that is on the National Register of Greensboro Historic District.* Please try to get by Design Archives and not only admire the historic building, but have a look at the wide variety of items available to purchase. From the kitschy to classy to handmade to items related to Greensboro, Design Archives has something for everybody. You will be supporting small businesses and shopping local, all under one roof!

In the meantime, we did want to mention that between Design Archives and Little Brother Brewing, Kit has announced that she is opening a doll shop. If you walk by the space, you will see floor to (almost) ceiling dolls, many of which are handmade. It will be fun to watch how Kit works her magic with this space. We'll go back and get a photo!

Happy Wednesday!

*Read more about on the National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form.

 

Old Mill of Guilford

Today's photo is an exterior view of the Old Mill of Guilford on Highway 68. It is a fabulous piece of local history to visit year-round, but especially on a warm, fall day. We had out of town guests visiting and the first things they want to do when visiting Greensboro is eat barbecue and head to the Old Mill to purchase grits and meal for making cornbread. (yellow and white for both). They crave this little taste of home. One of the guests is a welder and he struck up a conversation with Amy, one of the owners. She explained that the 24-foot wheel no longer provides power because there are so many holes is the pipe, the water can't build up enough pressure to turn the wheel. We learned it would take anywhere from $75,000 to $300,000 to repair it, depending on whether the repair was a liner sleeve or replacement pipe. Our guest happened to be a welder and would love to be involved in the restoration, if only he lived closer. He was surprised at the thinness of the gauge of the current pipe and would want to opt for a thicker gauge.

On Monday, we shared a wish for someone to deliver a giant moving skeleton to the owner of the Halloween house at 2304 Gracewood Drive. Today, we're wishing someone would spearhead the replacement of the pipe at 1340 NC-68. When you see projects get done, like the Ai Church down the road, you realize the impact restoration has on the beauty of a community. The mill dates back to 1767, over 40 years before Greensboro was a city. You would think, as a community (a county, a state), we could make restoration happen.* Maybe we should start an "invest in our community" page on Greensboro Daily Photo. Surely, replacing the pipe at the Old Mill, so they don't have to resort to grinding grain electrically, would be something special for our community! As you can see, welders, the welding is a straight line, until you reach that bend at the top.

Happy Wednesday!

* read more about the mill, here.

Old Mill of Guilford

We went to the Old Mill of Guilford to purchase corn meal this past weekend and took a great photo of the exterior. However, the photo is almost exactly of one we took in 2020 (see HERE). Therefore, we decided to share one of the interior details. Above, is one of the rack of stamps used to label bags of ground grains. You can read some of the stamps, cornmeal and sweet potato pancake to name a couple. The mill has been a Greensboro institution since the 1700s. We are so lucky that this grist mill is still around and still grinding grains the old fashioned way, with stone and water. How nostalgic to be using rubber stamps in this era where so much is digital.

One thing that has changed from the last time we purchased cornmeal from there is that there is no longer a plastic interior bag.- one less piece of waste! The people who wait on you are still friendly and efficient. We forgot to ask, but we're hoping they are using Gate City Rubber Stamp Company, located at 316 South Greene Street, for their stamps. Yelp dates this stamp company back to 1956, a mere infant as far as the Old Mill is concerned, but the match of old stamps and an old mill is a great combination. We're thinking a trip to the stamp store is in order. More sleuthing is in order.

Happy Tuesday!

Moses Cone Mural at the Denim Hotel

We had a chance to tour the Hotel Denim last week; above, is a mural painted on the 3rd floor. It is a painting of Moses H. Cone, the American textile entrepreneur who, with his brother Caesar,  built the largest denim mill in the world and the largest cotton mill in the US southeast. The Cones were major employers in Greensboro. Moses and his wife never had children and became great philanthropists in Greensboro and North Carolina. He accomplished so much to have died at age 51, in 1908 from pulmonary edema. Every floor of the Hotel Denim has art related to Greensboro's denim and blue jean history. The hotel's website has extensive photos of the art. We're betting the Hotel Denim, conveniently located at 1517 Westover Terrace, will be very busy during homecoming season, especially during NCA&Ts homecoming.

It seems fitting for us to feature one of Greensboro's most prominent Jewish citizens as Yom Kippur starts this evening at sundown. For those of you celebrating Yom Kippur, may you have an easy fast. 

Happy Tuesday!

Jeansboro Sculpture at LeBauer Park

It is hard to believe this photo was taken less than a month ago, back before this cold snap brought in by Hurricane Ian dropped the temperature to the 50s. The photo shows you the vibrancy of downtown, especially on Davie Street between the two city parks. The artwork is a fiberglass pair of jeans, celebrating Greensboro's rich heritage of making denim and jeans. There was a time when Greensboro made more blue jeans than anywhere else in the world. While that empire has moved overseas, the memories remain. In 2015, the name "Jeansboro" was coined as a nod to that history. We even have a Jeansboro Day.*  

The artist of the above piece is Sage Hanna Betts. There are several of these blue jean sculptures around town, one at PTI airport and another at the Greensboro Science Center.  The 4' tall sculptures were painted by local students and artists. Here is a GPS City map. We haven't tried it, because we have a pretty good idea of what is where in Greensboro; however, if you want to map out a tour, try here. We hope you have a great weekend and your are safe and your home is dry! If we took this photo today, people would be in long sleeves, rain jackets, and jeans. It is time to put the shorts away.

Happy Saturday!

* read more here.

Sunday Afternoon at Double Oaks

The Double Oaks B&B at 204 North Mendenhall Street dates to 1909. It was built for Harden Thomas Martin who was a native of Rockingham County,  the next county north of Guilford. The home was first opened as a bead and breakfast in 1998 by Win and Ann Milan. In 2016, James and Amanda Keith purchased the property and they have been working very hard to not only have it be a bed and breakfast, but to also be a venue for activities that bring in the community. The Keiths host events and also make it possible for community members to host events. The above photo features the Sunday afternoon old-time music group during String Band Sunday (from 4-7 pm). On Wednesday evenings they have jazz- Wine Wednesday.

If you know old-time music, you know that the fiddler calls the tunes and pretty much sets the pace for the jam. The above fiddler, Christen Blanton Mack is part of the Zinc Kings. They will be one of the featured bands at the North Carolina Folk Festival in Greensboro (September 9-11). Head to the folk festival to hear Christen fiddle. Or, stop by Double Oaks on Sunday afternoons to hear her fiddling and, maybe even play a tune with her. Savory tacos with homemade tortilla shells are available on Sunday afternoons. We are so lucky that in Greensboro, so many of these local venues offer special events- music, arts and crafts events, food trucks, and more. They say Thursday is the new Friday. Head out and find some fun! A new adventure is only a google search away!

A Legacy of Leadership

The Center for Creative Leadership, founded in 1970,  is a wealth of Greensboro history. First of all, it was started by the family that created Vicks VapoRub, the Richardsons. On the middle shelf on the right is a gold jar of the salve, the billionth, yes billionth, jar. This product was selling well, even during the Great Depression. If you see the monitor in the bottom center of the photo, there is a very informative presentation about the history of the Richardson family, the history of the Vicks VapoRub product, and how that ties into the founding of the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL).

Lunsford Richardson (1854- 1919) is the pharmacist who created a salve to relieve symptoms of a common cold. The menthol that went into the salve was a drug from Japan. Lunsford's son, Henry Smith Richardson Sr. (1885- 1972), worked in the family business. As a quote in the presentation explains, H. Smith Richardson "began researching what separates a successful organization from one that fails. He devoted his time to developing ways to identify, evaluate, train and advance future leaders, and established the Smith Richardson Foundation in 1935."  H. Smith Richardson Jr. (1920- 1999) continued the work of his father and grandfather. Smith Richardson Jr. "was instrumental in creating the Center for Creative Leadership, an institute that trains executives, military officers and politicians in business and government. Mr. Richardson was chairman of the center's board from 1972 until 1994.*

The CCL, a global leader in leadership training, is located right here, between Bur-Mil Park/Owl's Roost and Hamburg Mill Road on North Battleground (Highway 220). Just think, it all has its roots in the work of the pharmacist who created the Vicks products. In the short hour we were at CCL, it was fascinating to hear the conversations related to the Richardson families companies and products. One person, who seemed to be very knowledgeable, talked about a garden that they had growing plants that could be used for medicinal purposes. If it has not been done already, getting oral histories of people who have first-hand information about the Vicks factory and some of the stories that only people who worked at the factory would know. As for the CCL, they have many books about leadership and much of the work they are doing today.

 

*Reference and more information in New York Times article from 1999. See HERE.

 

 

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

As many of you may remember from the post on Sunday, it was General Nathanael Greene's birthday. We know that the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park always has a lot happening in March, about the time of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. However, we don't recall their celebrating his birthday in August. This past Saturday, they had a dedication of a new cannon that is a closer replica to what actually would have been at the battle than the cannon in he above photo. The young man in the photo, dressed in what would have been civilian clothes from the time period questioned the ranger. He had just returned from seeing the firing of the new cannon and questioned its size, wondering how it would fit through the door. The ranger admitted that they were going to have to increase the size of the door to get the new cannon through. How heartwarming to see a young student that attuned to history and interested in history so much so that he dresses for the occasion. 

Seeing the exhibits at the visitors center is very special, but even more meaningful is talking to people knowledgeable about the time period.  We are looking forward to seeing the cannon in its new home. Every time we go to the park and to events there, we learn a little bit more about the history of Greensboro. Mark your calendar for mid-March 2023, when the reenactment will take place. Happy Tuesday!

 

Ukrainians in the Carolinas

Saturday, the Ukrainians in the Carolinas organization held a fundraising event for Ukraine at the Calvin Graves Plantation in Caswell County. The festival, known as Ivana Kupala, was a summer solstice celebration. The event featured music, food, crafts, the making of Ukrainian live-flower wreaths (vinok), dance lessons and more! The live music was a combination of  genres, including Ukrainian folk music. The above photo features the East Piedmont Rounders, a group of old-time musicians. They were playing traditional acoustic tunes with Jan Gittleman flatfoot dancing. The musicians performing are David Thompson, Mary Charlton, Mike Collins, and Larry Vellani, with Charlie Berry working sound. The Red Kalyna American-Ukrainian band also performed later in the afternoon.

Calvin Graves was a North Carolina politician who, according to the historic marker in front of this house (above), in 1849, cast the deciding vote for the North Carolina railroad. While this venue 40 miles north of Greensboro, it is an easy day trip. The money used during Saturday's fundraiser will help build a well for drinking water, medical and tactical supplies in Ukraine. If you are interested in donating, see here. Also, Greensboro will likely see an influx of Ukrainian refugees and there will be ways for you to help Ukrainian refugees. See here.

Have a great Wednesday!

RIP: Women's Hospital

Women's Hospital on Green Valley Road is no more. The above photo does not even begin to show the scope of the debris on the site. D.H. Griffin is in the middle of the demolition and, if you didn't know better, you would think it was in a war zone. A drone photographer needs to capture this scene.*  

The hospital was known as Greensboro Hospital when it opened in 1977. In 1990 when Cone Health bought it, the facility became Women's Hospital. In 2021, Deep River Partners acquired the property. Due to COVID, the transaction was delayed so that Cone Health could use the hospital for a COVID-19 care facility- the first in North Carolina. It was used as a COVID-19 care facility for 11 months. People also could get vaccines there. Deep River Partners is a leasing agency for non-residential real estate. It will be interesting to watch the property transform as the new facility gets built.  Have a drive past it, at the corner of Green Valley Road and Westover Terrace and see the transformation in process. Now that it has started, the changes will happen quickly. There is a really good news release from Cone Health providing the history of the hospital and the future for the site.**  

*David Bartenfield?

** reference and more information.

Revolution Mill on a Clear, Spring Night

Revolution Mill, the historic cotton mill complex on Yanceyville Road, is so beautiful at night. The above photo was taken at the entrance beside Cugino Forno Pizzeria, a pizzeria that was recently rated one of the top 100 in the world. It is the closest pizza to pizza in Italy that we have tasted in the United States. Eating pizza in the mill hall is do much fun. The long picnic tables are conducive to sharing with customers you don't know initially, but have the chance to leave as friends.

The two smoke stacks in the background tower high above the mill and the lighting at night is dramatic. In the foreground it the water tower that was formerly painted red. Now white, it stands out so much more. The textile mill, built at the beginning of the 20th century, is a multi-use complex today with everything from apartments to office space to restaurants to event space to more. Every time we go there, we see something new. The whole building takes on a different character by day and by night; both equally dramatic!

Happy Wednesday, a good day to go explore Revolution Mill.

Kontoor Wrangler

Three years ago, on May 23, 2019, Wrangler and Lee became part of the publicly traded Kontoor Brands, Inc. Above, is the corporate world headquarters on North Elm Street. They also have a headquarters in Belgium and Hong Kong. While Wrangler is a top seller in the American jean market, the Lee line is the biggest denim brand in China- and to think this is all based out of Greensboro. It would be nice to have a "know your city" tour for elementary school students with this building and company being one of the stops. When we were there the other day, the sky was so beautiful, the wind was blowing, making the American and North Carolina flags fly high. The whole scene was just so majestic.

The above building was built in 1994 and has a beautifully visible presence on the north end of town, on the front end of the growth here. Now, with the Tanger Center, the baseball stadium, Joymongers, LeBauer Park and all of the other venues surrounding it, downtown truly stretches all the way from Smith Street to West Gate City Boulevard. According to their website, Kontoor is committed to sourcing and and manufacturing their apparel responsibly and sustainably.

We hope you have a great weekend. If you get a chance, have a walk along the above headquarters and its environs. It is fun to know our city.

Towering Cypress Tree On Clement Court

John Witherspoon moved to Greensboro in 1968 to assume the position of Guilford County manager. The Forest Valley neighborhood off of Hobbs Road was being developed at the time, and it was where the Witherspoons settled, a nice neighborhood for John and wife June to raise a family. In 1970, he planted a Deodar cedar tree in the center of the cul-de-sac at the end of the street. Over the next 2+ decades during the family's time in Greensboro, they watched the cedar grow. At Christmas, the family would decorate it, even when they had to bring in special equipment to get the lights on the top. Now, after 50 years, the tree is probably too large to decorate, but it still gets plenty of use. While it is hard to see from this angle, under the tree, residents of Clement Court have placed a swing, a bench, and some other seating. It is really a great gathering spot for the families on the street.

While Mr. and Mrs. Witherspoon moved on after his 23 years of service to Guilford County, the tree stands strong, serving as a visual legacy of his impact on the community. Of course other things came to fruition locally during Mr. Witherspoon's tenure with the county; including the consolidation of the courts, construction of a new courthouse and offices, the creation of an ambulance service, the establishment of countywide zoning, and more.* Mr. Witherspoon always loved the people of Guilford County, as well as the natural beauty of the area. His cypress tree adds to that beauty. As Arbor Day (4/29)  and Earth Day (4/22) draw near, let us all follow Mr. Witherspoon's lead and plant something that will contribute to the beauty of our community. 

 

*reference and more information.

Site of Union Graveyard & Formerly, Old Methodist Church

Yesterday, exploring the northwestern end of the county, we stumbled on a lot that used to have a Methodist church and still has graves of union soldiers. It is a little hard to access as there is no off street parking, but there is an historic marker outlining who is buried there. The graves aren't marked; possibly the names have worn off. The earliest graves are of veterans of the American Revolution in the 1700s- specifically, Samuel Vance and John Lowrey.. Also buried there is Civil War veteran James Gray Lowrey, who likely was the son of John Lowrey. According to the historic marker, Allen Lowrey was founding trustee and land donor for Oak Ridge Institute. He was born in 1809 and died in 1882 at the age of 73. We're not sure where the Methodist Church would have been located. The property is full of trees and stumps from trees that have been removed.

This property is on East Harrell Road; it splits off of Highway 150 and connects to Highway 68. That is one interesting road. Across from this Union cemetery is a house with a Confederate flag and just on down the road, a state trooper parks his car at the road, reminding all of us to honor the speed limit. There is also an old tobacco barn. History is so important. We are grateful that this property has been kept, honoring people who lived as long as 300 years ago. The shadows from the late afternoon sun accentuate the gravestones, some of which are nothing more that upturned rocks.

Happy Sunday!