Greensboro Daily Photo

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.

Jefferson Standard Building

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

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

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

Lincoln Financial Group

Yesterday afternoon was so lovely, we had to take a walk downtown. In all the years we've featuring Greensboro and admiring the Jefferson Standard, Jefferson Pilot, Lincoln Financial Group building, we've never stepped foot inside. Yesterday, we made it inside and saw the beautiful foyer. To the left is another entrance/exit. To the right are all the turnstiles that only those who have a right be there can enter.We spent a few minutes in the foyer, admiring its beauty. It got us thinking of all the money that has cycled through Greensboro here, as well as all of the executives who have made their fortunes and who became prominent citizens by working in the insurance industry.

According to their website, "Lincoln Financial Group provides resources and solutions that help empower Americans to take charge of their financial lives with confidence and optimism."  The company started in 1905 in Fort Wayne, Indiana and got permission from Abraham Lincoln's son to use his father's name and likeness (reference and more information). The photo was taken in the part of the building that was added in 1990.  Julian Price built the older building in the complex to be his company's headquarters- Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company. He paid for the building in full because he didn't believe in debt (more history here). Fortunately, much is documented about the two buildings that comprise this complex, Greensboro's iconic skyscrapers. We would love to get a tour of the building and see Greensboro from the top floor. Yesterday, we were one step closer.

Jim Schlosser

Today we are featuring Jim Schlosser, a career journalist who started with the afternoon Greensboro Record in 1967 and retired from the Greensboro News & Record in 2008.   For  four decades, Jim was dedicated to covering key stories about Greensboro. He also went on special assignment throughout the U.S. and abroad, always bringing back stories to the local community. From the hearthstone/everyday to the Olympian/sublime, Jim took great care to be informative, engaging, and accurate. Jim acknowledges he had the good fortune to work during the golden age of journalism, back in the day when the local paper had multiple photographers, several reporters, and 100,000 subscribers. 

While Jim is retired from the newspaper, he is a person who will never retire from documenting and writing about the history of Greensboro. Above, Jim is photographed in front of the Greensboro city directories, books he frequently references when volunteering at the Greensboro History Museum. One of Jim's many retirement endeavors has been to catalog the negatives of local photographer Mr. Carol  Martin. There are approximately half a million negatives, dating from 1947 to the early 1990s; Jim laments, to date,  he has only catalogued  through 1954.  In the Martin Collection, Jim finds negatives on every subject from weddings to Greensboro street scenes to photos from Curry High School. The mystery of what he will happen upon in the Martin Collection parallels the serendipity of what he uncovers just by walking up and down Elm Street. Hamburger Square, the area around the railroad tracks, and the 500-600 blocks of South Elm Street have always been of special interest to Jim.

Another "job" Jim found in retirement is playing golf, something he put on hold during his newspaper years. We extend a big thank you for all Jim has contributed to telling the story of Greensboro, and for all of the leads he gave us for future Greensboro Daily Photo  posts. Happy Friday!

February 1st Place

Today's photo is of February 1st Place, located between Market and Washington Streets at Elm Street. It is a short and narrow street that carries a lot of history for our community. The street commemorates the Greensboro Sit-Ins when four African-American NCA&T students engaged in a sit-in at the F.W. Woolworth lunch counter. The Woolworth building, built in 1939, is part of the historic district in downtown Greensboro and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was save from demolition in 1993, estored, and plays a key role in the history of Civil Rights and social justice in Greensboro.

To the right, you can see one of the beautiful flower baskets maintained throughout downtown Greensboro. You can also see a Rolex Clock that stands in a metal case half way down February 1st Place. It harkens back to the days before cell phones and digital technology, when many people depended on analog clocks strategically set around  town. This one is well maintained and keeps accurate time. The metal casing says "Electric Time, Medfield, Mass. It is hard to believe that in less than 100 years, street clocks and downtown variety stores became obsolete. It will be interesting to monitor what future decades bring.

Tobacco: All Rows Lead to the Tobacco Barn!

Tobacco has been such a big part of the history of Greensboro, Guilford County, and North Carolina. Peak production in Greensboro was the 1890s.  P. Lorillard was the nation's oldest tobacco company when they built a manufacturing plant in Greensboro in the mid-twentieth century. Back when we would spend a lot of time in east Greensboro, we remember smelling tobacco being prepared and always tried to guess the flavors being added- chocolate was the easiest to identify. You could smell it from Lorillard all the way over to Dudley High School. In the 1980s, the local tobacco industry really fell on hard times. By 1989, Greensboro passed the most restrictive smoking ordinance in North Carolina.* In the 1990s, it was the state's top cash crop, but Guilford County is not in the top ten tobacco growing counties. 

We don't want to encourage smoking by any means; however, it is important for people to recognize the crop and recognize the role it has played in shaping the local economy. As you can see in the above tobacco field on Highway 150, it grows well in sand. This is a hardy crop that has been well tended. It is always fun to see a crop, pull of the road, and get a few photos. With all of the construction happening locally and land is selling for such a premium, continuing to farm any crop is quite a commitment. Would you recognize a field of tobacco? Study this one and then keep your eye out. This week, we've got you seeking out a new bakery, searching for purple LED lights, and now tobacco fields. Stick with Greensboro Daily Photo and we will lead you to interesting places!

Happy Wednesday. What will tomorrow bring?

 

*reference here and and here for more information.

Schiffman's 2021

Schiffman's is currently open in Friendly Center at the former Pier 1 location.  In August, Greensboro's oldest and most established jewelry store will reopen in its original Friendly Center location. The above photo shows the exterior letters just before they were installed on Wednesday. By Wednesday afternoon, they were already in place, bringing the remodeling one step closer to completion. The store has expanded, building into the former Build-A-Bear space. The new store is rumored to be the nicest jewelry store in the southeast. They will have jewelers on site, will be able to repair Rolex watches on site, and will have amenities and events that will make it quite the upscale destination.

We stopped by yesterday and spoke to Ben, and he assured us that the downtown store will remain open as a jewelry store and as the main office. Schiffman's has been in downtown Greensboro since 1893.  In 2011, we  were fortunate to have the opportunity to feature Tony Schiffman, Jr.. Tony died in 2015 at the age of 76, suffering from Parkinson's (obituary, here). He would be so pleased to know the business is growing under the helm of his three sons. If you like fine jewelry and want to shop local, Schiffman's is a fabulous option. Let's hope they remain open for another 128+ years... in Friendly Center AND downtown!

Happy Friday. Time to get out and explore!

Hamburger Square

If you want to know what life was like at Hamburger Square about 100 years ago, Jim Scholsser's article "Hamburger Square Has a Past" is an outstanding place to start. It was published in the book, "27 Views of Greensboro". The Hamburger Square area had so many businesses, it makes one wonder how on earth they all fit. There were hotels galore, trains stopping all the time, and passengers boarding and exiting.  There was a cigar factory, and yes, there were seedy aspects that kept Hamburger Square teeming with life.  While those old businesses are gone, their architecture remains. The area is on the national register of historic places.

Tha above photo is of east/west rail lines at the 400 block of South Elm Street. Because of this rail traffic, Greensboro became known as "Gate City". Schlosser writes that the railroad actually transformed Greensboro. Because of the railroad, our city recovered from the Civil War quickly, growing and prospering.  In 1890, more than forty passenger trains stopped at the square daily. The railroad is what brought the textile industry here. In recent years (the 1990s) gentrification began downtown and started around Hamburger Square with Natty Greene's, Just Be, Green Bean, Design Archives, and McCouls. Schlosser reminds us: "One aspect of the square remains unchanged. Everyday, at all hours since 1856, trains have jolted the peace at Hamburger Square" (p. 93). The above photo shows a couple of young adults trying to get the perfect photos on these iconic tracks. People are quick to remind us that Greensboro doesn't have mountains, a beach, a river. Perhaps the railroad tracks, with their ability to move people and goods, are our geographic feature. Happy Tuesday!

Reynolds Chapel Cemetery

Today's photo features the graveyard that used to be beside Reynolds Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, before the church sold their original property to BP and moved the church up the road to Hibler Road (featured on GDP yesterday). After recently reading Margaret Moffett Banks' 1/10/2014 News & Record article about the cemetery  in the church's previous location, we headed out to find it. On one side is the Wyndam Hotel and a chain link fence. The rest of the property has a wooden fence and there is no hint of an entrance. If you walk in the lane for the car wash at the BP, you will see a gate at the end, near the other car wash, the exotic car wash. While this isn't the best photo, we wanted you to see the orientation of the cemetery to the BP station and convenience store- note the green and white awning.

We were pleased to see that the cemetery is still being maintained and weeds no longer obscure the headstones.  The marked graves are mostly from people who died in the 20th century and that the only people being buried at the cemetery are people who already had family there.  If we read correctly, the most recent grave is from 2017 (Bertha Lee Pressley 1926-2017). It must have been hard getting the grave dug and a hearse brought into the cemetery in this landlocked 1/4 acre strip of land. The sanctuary has been gone for over thirty years, but the congregants continue to maintain this private cemetery. Now, if we were real detectives, we would attempt to settle the mystery Ms. Banks posed seven years ago. Where is Mary S. Means buries? Her husband Forrest has a double marker. Mary was born on May 20, 1901; either she was buried and a death date simply was not carved, or she was buried elsewhere. Hopefully, the Means family is satisfied with the solution.

Happy Monday!

Fire Station #4

Gorrell Street is located just southwest of downtown Greensboro, crossing over Morrow Boulevard and near Bennett College. We wanted to visit Station #4, photographed above and located at 401 Gorrell,  because Logie Meachum writes about it in his reflection, "Sweet Magnolia, in the book "27 Views of Greensboro".  Logie had to be bussed across town to attend a school that accepted African-American children. He made the most of the daily trip, ever eager to see what guests were playing at the Magnolia Hotel. Just down the road from the Magnolia was Fire Station #4, another favorite of his. Here's what he has to say, reflecting on his adventures  on the No. 5 bus.

"The No. 5 Gorrell Street bus went under the bridge at Market Street and Murow Boulevard, which was and remains the gateway to the soul side of town. As we headed toward Gorrell Street, my mind focused on two special places: Fire Station No. 4 had Greensboro's only all-black crew, who to me and the other kids at the time were local heroes; the other site was the Magnolia Hotel (p. 55). In retracing Logie's steps, we saw what he saw, firemen working hard to make sure they would be ready in the event of a fire. Engine #4 has been in this location since 1964 and it integrated in 1967.* The people who worked, lived, and traveled along Gorrell Street in the 1960s would be happy to know that the fire station, and the Magnolia Hotel down the street are still up and running. Have a drive and see for yourself. Happy Saturday!

*reference and additional information.

Fordham Drugs at 514 South Elm Street

Every so often, we like to pass by 514 South Elm Street to check on Fordham Drug Store. It was founded in 1898, but has been closed since 2002. The architecture is in the Italianate style, so popular at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. Greensboro still has many examples of this style building. The building has not changed much since it was built  123 years ago. It has the large glass windows, wooden floors, a tin ceiling, and the plaster mortar and pestle on top of the facade.*

While it has since tipped over, there is still a FOR SALE sign in the window. Given all of the history the building has in the Greensboro community, it was be so nice for it to retain as much of its original character as possible. Even the mosaic tile at the entrance says "Fordham's Drug Store." The 500 block of South Elm Street has so many history buildings. You can read more about them here. Not unlike having a CVS and a Walgreen's drug store right beside each other today, just down the street at 530 South Elm, was an O. Henry drug store. From today's photo, there is not a lot to reveal that the photo was not taken 100 years ago; perhaps the unidentified woman would have been reading a newspaper and not a cell phone and there wouldn't have been incense for sale on the street. What would you like to see this building become?

 

* Here is an article about Fordham's from 2016 in Our State Magazine.

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.

609 South Mendenhall Street

Happy May Day! Today is the day of an ancient festival of spring. The property at 609 South Mendenhall Street is about as joyful and springlike as a yard gets. Yesterday, we happened to stop by the "Little Free Library" box at the edge of this yard and the beauty of the flowers drew us in. We noticed the owner, Jane, watering the hanging baskets on the porch and struck up a good-old-fashioned conversation. The house is located in the heart of College Hill, Greensboro's first neighborhood and the first to receive an "historic district" designation 

Jane and her family have lived at the house for two years and, while it looks like it has been there for a century, the house was actually built recently on an empty lot that was previously owned by the College Hill Neighborhood.  It was sold under the condition that the house would be owner-occupied and that the new construction be in line with the architecture of the neighborhood. Jane said the best compliment she gets is when someone tells her what a good job they did "renovating" the home. Today's photo doesn't begin to capture its beauty. The purples are much more dominant and the porch is so inviting, Hopefully, Jane has time to swap out a book in the "Little Free Library" and read it on that porch swing under the paint blue ceiling.

United States Post Office and Courthouse

The Unites States Post Office and Courthouse is also known at the L. Richardson Preyer, Jr. Federal Building. It is located on the block between Market Street and Friendly Avenue at Eugene Street. It was built in 1931- 1933 in the Art Deco style. It is five stories tall. The base is Mt. Airy granite and the walls are Indiana limestone. See HERE for more interesting details about the interior and exterior architecture. The interior is also beautiful and we need to get inside to photograph it for you.

Today's photo was taken across the street at the Governmental Plaza. The beautiful spring foliage adds great color to today's photo. The building was built in direct response to the Public Building Act of 1926. Hopefully, there are plans for a centennial celebration. In the meantime, if you are out dodging raindrops this weekend, head downtown to see this beautiful building. It looks fabulous in all weather conditions. To be sure, it looks like if was built to last for centuries!

100 S Mendenhall St.

This house at the corner of South Mendenhall and Market Street is one of the great historic beauties in College Hill. The above view is the Market Street side, not even the main entrance. However, this time of year, both sides of the house are so beautiful, especially with the trees leafing out, and the sun shining. That red tree looked like it was on fire as we ran past on our mid-day, 5K route yesterday.

In 1980, College Hill was designated the first historic district in Greensboro. In 1993, it was named to the National Register of Historic Places. That designation adds a very special feature to a neighborhood (reference and read more here). The above house is on the northernmost corner of College Hill, quite a welcome into the neighborhood! The colors of the house looked especially beautiful yesterday; they would have been deemed in compliance with the requirements of the historic district.  College Hill was settled in the mid 19th century by people, in many cases, affiliated with nearby Greensboro College. Even though this house is situated on one of the busiest streets leading into downtown Greensboro, when you are there, it is as if you are visiting a bucolic, country estate.

 

The Historic Magnolia House

The Magnolia House is a Green Book site, meaning it was a destination for African-American travelers during the segregated Jim Crow era. Magnolia House, located at 442 Gorrell Street, was built in 1890. Between 1955- 1961, several prominent African Americans spent the night here, often en route to important engagements north and south of Greensboro. The house is on the National Register of Historic Places and was originally known as the Daniel D. Debutts House. Some of the people who stayed here were James Brown Ray Charles, Ike and Tina Turner, and Jackie Robinson.*

The Magnolia House has so many community initiatives. Also, they offer retreats and corporate events, family events like birthdays and weddings. During the pandemic, they have found very creative ways to have fundraising events, such as music sessions on the porch. They offer shoebox lunches starting at $13. The Magnolia House Foundation hopes to restore and maintain the property as an historic hotel. The above photo of the east side of the property gives you an idea of the size of the house. Just look at that inviting porch. Drive by, if you get a chance this weekend. If you don't, read more in the link below. 

*reference and more information HERE.

Oden Brewing Company: The Façade

Yesterday's view on GDP was the back yard of Oden Brewing, the part behind the houses on the west side of the building. Today, we share the facade of Oden Brewing, located at 802 West Gate City Boulevard. If you are local, likely, you have noticed this this brick structure- vacant for years. The building has one of those fee- good stories of the younger generation preserving a little bit of the past. This story is even sweeter given the Oden family, brothers Bill and John, and their families, have resorted the building that once housed their great grandfather's bottling plant. According to their website, "William L. "Fate" Oden operated his soft drink bottling plant in the towering industrial building formerly known as Buffalo Rock Bottling Plant." 

At the height of the bottling of soft drinks, in the late 40s early 50s, there were ten bottling plants in Greensboro (read the 1998 News & Record article, here). It also appears that Buffalo Rock actually dates back to 1901 in Birmingham, Alabama, and that the above building would have been part of the network of Buffalo Rock bottlers and distributers. While plastic has long since beat out glass in the soft drink bottling industry, beer is still bottled in glass (or cans) and the Bill and John Oden family bottling beer in the very site that their great grandfather built a bottling business. Somehow, that story just seems for fitting in spring- the key season for rebirth and renewal.

Quiet Afternoon At Hamburger Square

Hamburger Square is located in the heart of downtown Greensboro. This view is at the corner of South Elm Street and McGee Street. Some days, this very space is filled with people and performers during downtown events. At times, a state is set up here for performers. Yesterday, all was quiet here and sometimes a quiet and peaceful walk is so meaningful, especially after a long day at work. In the distance, you can see the trestle bridge that was recently refurbished and repainted. It sees a lot of train traffic daily. Since 1851, Greensboro has been a big part of the NC Railroad Corridor, the very reason the city is nicknamed The Gate City.

There are many open spaces in Greensboro and remember there are many great shops, restaurants, and other businesses just waiting for you to stop in for a visit. We hope you have a great weekend and that you find time to head downtown. Just in front of the magnolia tree on the left are free-standing DGSO letters. They are perfect for a photo opportunity. No doubt where the photo was taken when you are in front of those letters.

Kerenhappuch Norman Turner

Today, we're featuring another monument in Monument Row at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. The person is Kerennappuch Norman Turner. Ms. Turner received word that her son had been badly wounded in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. She rode by horseback all the way from Maryland and nursed her son back to health. A mother's love and committed care made a difference and saved a soldier. Here is what the inscription reads, at the base of the statue:

A Heroine of '76
Mrs. Kerenhappuch Turner
Mother of Elizabeth
The Wife of Joseph
Morehead of N.C. And
Grandmother of Captain
James and of John Morehead
A Young N.C. Soldier Under
Greene, Rode Horse-back from
Her Maryland Home and At
Guilford Courthouse Nursed
To Health A Badly Wounded Son

We are a little confused as to why the hands on the statue are covered in duct tape. It could be weather related. If you know why, please let us know. Happy Friday, consider heading out there and see these interesting sights and sites!

 

General Greene Rides Again!

March is such an important month in the history of Greensboro. March 15th was the day of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. In 1781, Major General Nathanael Greene led the Continental army against the British army, led by General Charles Lord Cornwallis. Though the British won the battle, we won the war.* While his army lost, General Greene survived the battle, living five more years and dying in Grove, GA, at the age of forty three! If we read our history books correctly, it seems like General Greene was only in Greensboro for about a month. Maybe not even that long. He arrived in North Carolina in February, arrived in Greensboro on March 14th, fought the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on March 15th and headed for South Carolina in April. However, General Greene left a lasting impression on the area and, 27 years later, in 1808, when Greensboro became a town, it took Greene's name and we have been Greensborough/Greensboro ever since. 

This is a very special time of year to visit Guilford Court House National Military Park. You can take a self-guided tour on your cell phone and learn about all of the statues and history. It is so special to see the park while the trees are in leafless winter mode and then again when the tree canopy is completely back. The monument stands over 27 feet tall. It was dedicated in 1915 and the sculptor was Francis H. Packer and the statue in the photo is bronze. The base (not visible in this photo) is granite. The monument was placed on the highest point in the park. Read more about it here in the North Carolina Encyclopedia. Please do head to the park and see these monuments for yourself. If you already have, go visit them again, and have a great day while you are at it! Happy Wednesday!

 

* Here is the link to the Wikipedia entry about the battle. It isn't a bad place to start if you need a quick refresher on Greensboro's early history.

Gillies Monument at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

Today's photo is of the James Gillies Monument at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. It was a beautiful day to walk along Monument Row. The above scene will look completely different when the leaves are back on the trees and the sun can hardly filter through the canopy. Inside the dark diamond of the monument in the above photo is the following inscription: "Light Horse Harry Lee's Bugler-Boy" The monument was erected by the Literary Societies and Alumni of Oak Ridge Institute, May 6th, 1898 to the memory of the Gallant James Gullies who fell under the swords of the Tarleton's Dragoons near Oak Ridge, NC. Gillies dies for his country's freedom on February 12th 1781.

Here is a NCpedia reference and article about the Gillies Monument. This monument is one of several in a row in front of the visitor's center. Yesterday afternoon, the park was very busy. It is a great place to walk, run, and ride bikes. It seems to be returning to its vibrant self after having suffered the loss of many trees during the recent ice storms. Under normal years, we would be participating in the March Reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. However, this year's event is canceled due to COVID-19. In the meantime, please enjoy the park; it is the perfect place to get out and enjoy the beauty of Greensboro- especially when the sun is shining.

Happy Friday!

Greensboro Sit Ins and African American History Month

February 1st, 1960, sixty one years ago, is the day the Sit-In Movement began at the lunch counter at Woolworth on South Elm Street in downtown Greensboro. Initially, four men  started these Sit Ins by refusing to get up from the lunch counter until they were served a cup of coffee. They are featured above.  David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Jabreel Khazan, Joseph McNeil were freshmen at North Carolina A&T during the Sit-Ins. To remember the movement, in 2002, this sculpture, by Jim Barnhill,  was erected on the campus of NC A&T, in front of the Dudley Memorial Building. Barnhill is an art professor at NC A & T. People not from Greensboro don't always realize the extent of this city's involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. Having so many institutions of higher education in Greensboro, including two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), NC A&T and Bennett College, contribute to this involvement. 

Related to civil rights and social justice, so much has happened nationally and in Greensboro just since February One last year. There have been heinous and offensive acts committed against people of color, and protests and reactions. Lets all spend the year doing what we can to make sure everyone is treated fairly and with dignity. Let's check back on February One, 2022,  and assess how the year has been. As we open African American History month, let us learn more about the above four men, and also people of color in the Greensboro community today who are making a difference. Happy Monday! Happy February One!

Southern Railway Passenger Station

Yesterday, we posted a photo of a railcar. Today, we are featuring the first railway passenger station in Greensboro. We owe much of the early rail traffic through Greensboro to Governor John Motley Morehead. While he died before the above station was built, he played a major role in having the trains travel through Greensboro. Governor Morehead's home is just a few blocks northeast of this rail station. The Southern Railroad Company commissioned the Southern Railway Station, which opened in 1899. The exterior is made of brick with granite trim. The station served travelers coming in and out of Greensboro.

This depot at 400 South Elm Street was replaced in 1927 by the J. Douglas Galyon Station on East Washington Street. The above building has changed considerably over the last 122 years. According to Preservation Greensboro, the elaborate Victorian elements were removed.*  While the turreted roof is long gone, the round brick support feature on the northeastern side of the building is still a noticeable feature. Also missing is the 3rd floor which was built under a clay roof filled with dormers. As of 1980, the has been on the National Register as part of the downtown Greensboro Historic District. So, hopefully, the building will be around for a very long time and will be repurposed into something Greensboro fabulous. The neighborhing Cascade Saloon was rescued and brought back to life by the Christman Company. The depot deserves to be restored. You can tell by the above photo that is has good bones. Happy Thursday, dear readers!

 

*reference and more information HERE.

Rolane Sock Factory and Outlet No More

Today, we take you to Hiatt Street between Spring Garden Street and the Pomona Rail Yard. What was once the Rolane Sock Factory is about to be repurposed as apartments and townhomes. It was built almost 95 years ago in 1926 and for years was known as the Mojud Hosiery Company. In 1938, a retail outlet was added to the facility. Over time the factory expanded and became Rolane. The building and businesses therein were a big part of Greensboro's history as a mill town. Jim Schlosser wrote a wonderful article about factory, telling us that at peak production there were 2,000 employees on three shifts. At one time, the factory produced over 19 million pairs of stockings a year. Mostly women worked there and the factory was such a vibrant place with a cafeteria and with their own baseball team. They held games on a field adjacent to the mill. The plant closed in 1972, but the outlet store onsite remained open until 1999. Many people remember the joy of going to the outlet store section and getting great bargains on socks, hose, and more- even Jordan almonds!

The building languished on its 8.7 acres for years. It changed hands a few times with a few stumbling blocks on the road to being repurposed. Issues were addressed and voilá, the conversion to housing has begin. As we drove by yesterday, we saw that all of the weeds were gone and the land around it is stripped down to red clay;  some of the fencing is down, the building has been gutted, and the facelift has begun. The interior will be transformed. However, the exterior will not change much as the building has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2011. From this view of the Northside of you building, without any landscaping, the enormity of the building is noted. It takes up a whole city block. We'll watch the progress and feature the building when it has transformed. In the meantime, there is a great article in the O. Henry Magazine this month and one we used as a reference (see p. 38-39 for more history about the factory). Also, we featured it on GDP in 2014.

Hamburger Square: What a Great Backdrop

Hamburger Square, at the end of the 300 block of South Elm Street, is where many community events take place. There have always been businesses here, especially sandwich shops. In the time of WWII, soldiers gathered here to travel by train. Currently Natty Greene's, Just Be, and Little Brother Brewing surround the square. The Southeast corner, just below the railroad tracks, doesn't have a business; it has some green space. The above photo is of Natty Greene's in December.

In January of 2019, an article in the News & Record stated that The Christman Company, located nearby in the former Cascade Saloon, donated $50,000 to help rejuvenate this area* It looks like at least some of the work has been done. To be sure the overpass got painted. Next time we're downtown, we'll look more closely to note changes. In addition to sprucing up the area, one of the goals is to make it more pedestrian friendly. Today is Friday; weather permitting, it could be a day to explore the Hamburger Square area.

One of the perks of taking lots of photos of Greensboro is that we have plenty to choose from for Zoom backdrops. We are currently using the above photo and the "zoomer" (person), is nestled snugly in the middle with the blue sky overhead and the lights in the background. Doing something silly, like trying to find a good Zoom background adds a little levity to the day. We've even had a request for a photo with trains as a Greensboro-themed background. Well see if we can take one this weekend for our science-teacher friend. Enjoy your weekend!

• read the article, here. 
• more information about Hamburger square from the 1940's, here. 

Happy New Year 2021: Reflecting On 2020!

 

Happy New Year!

On Greensboro Daily Photo, and throughout the entire City Daily Photo community, New Year's Day is when we share the most memorable photo of the previous year. We also like to feature one photo from each month. January 1st is always our favorite post to prepare because it gives us time to reflect on the great people, places, and events of the past year. The above photo of the year for 2020 is of Dr. Doris Henderson, who was originally featured, HERE, July 15, 2020. Dr. Henderson was an easy pick for the best post of 2020 because she is such an inspiring person, and in her 90+ years of living and working in Greensboro, she has touched many lives. Her photo was the most viewed in our 12 year history of GDP and it received the most comments in 2020. We are so grateful for all of the work Dr. Henderson still does for the community. She is a role model to many- including us!

For each month, we have selected a photo, putting together a diverse lot, to provide a good overview of life in and around Greensboro.

 

January: The Piedmont Old Time Society's Open Jam at Horigan's House of Taps. Hopefully music events can start up again in 2021

February: Common Grounds Coffee Shop. A Lindley Park neighborhood favorite!

March: Horse Farm on Pleasant Ridge. Of the 100 counties in NC, Guilford is one of the top equestrian locations. We have lots of horses!

April: Bees Swarming in Greensboro. Quite a backyard adventure!

May: Proximity United Methodist Church. So much history here. We try to pose something spiritual every Sunday. 12 yrs of Sundays = 624!

June: Bungalow on Percy Street. Greensboro has some really beautiful houses. This one is in the Dunleath (formerly, Aycock) neighborhood.

July: Kirkwood on the Fourth of July. After all, it is the people and sense of community & neighborhoods that makes Greensboro special.

August: Rotary Club Carousel. The carousel at the Greensboro Science Center is a tremendous community resource; so many made it possible.

September: Trains in the Gate City. At one time, trains were a main way to transport people and goods and Greensboro was the main crossroad.

October: Fall Fun at Lake Brandt. 2020 was a great year to rediscover Greensboro natural resources!

November: Peace- A Quaker Core Value. We featured Guilford College three times in November. We have got to find a way to sustain this college!

December: Sunny Winter Days. A landscape photo showcasing the natural beauty of Greensboro.

 

If you are interested in scrolling through the year, and pick favorites for yourself, this link should get you started.

Liberty Oak Restaurant and Bar

Liberty Oak Restaurant and Bar at 100 West Washington Street is a Greensboro institution. It was located in Irving Park for about 20 years and now, has been in their current location downtown for over 20 years. They are one of those restaurants that can feel as comfortable as the "Cheers" bar for those who are regulars. They are very original and special in their offerings and were on the front end of the bistro revolution in Greensboro. Also ahead of a trend,  Liberty Oak has been buying and showing local Greensboro art for decades now. Local artist Denise Landi recalls their showing and purchasing her art in the 1980s.

The above photo features their new signage out in front of their side entrance at the Vernon Building. That building was originally erected in 1883 and, as pointed out on their website, is the oldest building remaining in the Old Greensborough Historic District. Somehow, Liberty Oak just seems to belong here. Here is their fabulous menu, in case you are interested in dining indoors, outdoors, or placing a to-go order. Happy Wednesday!

White Oak Denim Mill Sculpture from the Jeansboro Series

Some cities have fiberglass bulls; others pigs; others horses; and the representations go on and on. Greensboro has blue jeans. With Greensboro's rich textile and denim history, this choice makes perfect sense. The above plexiglass pair of jeans is called "Woven Heritage" and is part of the 'Celebrating Jeansboro', NC series. Wrangler VF Jeanswear spearheaded this public art project in 2015.  The above artwork is by Neidy Perdomo and Ivan Gonzalez. There are jeans, each painted with a different theme, all throughout Greensboro. The White Oak pair has been installed in front of the Carolina Theatre on Greene Street.

White Oak was the original and last selvedge denim supplier in the United States. There is a mill in Louisiana using some of the equipment from the White Oak mill, and there are murmurings that they will make American-milled selvedge denim. The article is linked here.* We remain hopeful that someone will find a way for Greensboro to once again become a center of selvedge denim. With the shop local, small-batch, quality-over-quantity movement that is thriving in young-adults, surely, high quality denim will be once-again made in Greensboro. Every time you walk past one of these beautiful sculptures, consider making that wish.

* (Inside Hook, September 1, 2020)

Pomona Baptist Church

Today, we continue our journey through what was once the Pomona area of Greensboro. According to its cornerstone, the above church on Clifton Road was organized in 1906 and rebuilt in 1950. We can't find a history of the church online; the best available comes from obituaries. A News & Record obituary for the Rev. Clinton M. Oates, 86, states that he had been a minister at Pomona Baptist. Rev. Oates died in 1990. More recently, September 17, 2020, Mildred Cook Worsham passed away at the age of 94. When she was a young girl, her family moved from Mooresville to Greensboro where her father, Rev. Walter B. Cook, accepted the position of minister at Pomona Baptist.  

So, in the mid-20th century, Pomona was a viable church community. It would be really nice to have a church history as this church would have served workers at the Pomona Cotton Mill on Merritt Drive and the Pomona Terra Cotta Manufacturing Company on West Market Street.  Somewhere, along the way, the the church changed hands. Gone is the Baptist affiliation and the pews;  today, it is the Clifton Road campus of Mercy Hill Church with round tables and chairs in the sanctuary. Mercy Hill's website will tell you how to affiliate with the non-demonational church. 

Cranbrook Street: Teeming with Life

Cranbrook Street is a quiet little street located between Spring Garden Street, Wendover Avenue, and Merritt Drive on the edge of Hunter Hills. When driving along the busy main streets in this industrial part of town, you might not even notice it. Also, Clifton Road and Spring Garden Street separate the street into very distinct areas, now cut off from each other. However, once on these blocks, you see a part of town with homes dating back to the early 1900's. You will see a vibrant community;  houses with Christmas lights, people out working in their yards, and front porches reminding us of the beauty of sitting a spell and chatting with friends and neighbors.

707 Cranbrook, photographed above, was built in 1907, back in the day when we depended on trees to provide shade from the hot summer sun. For 113 years, someone has called this place home. When this house was built, the people who lived here might have worked at the Pomona Terra Cotta Manufacturing Company (built by John Van Lindley) or at the Pomona Cotton Mill. Today, both the tile factory and the cotton mill are gone, but this little house on Cranbrook Street holds the memories of a very historic part of town. It is still making memories for the people who live here. Happy Saturday!

Hudson Hill, H.Lee Waters Films, & Cone Denim

Today, Hudson's Hill American Made will host a very special event. Jonathan Ingram with Cone Denim (on left above) will be at Hudson's Hill with a small pop up of products made with denim from Cone Mills. Jonathan has a wealth of knowledge on textile history and branding. He knows all the great details, like how the shifting of the wooden floors in a textile factory, like White Oak, affects the appearance of the denim. Ben Singer (@benesing on the right) will show video footage from the H. Lee Waters films about Cone Denim. Bene will present at noon and then again at 4pm. Each presentation lasts about two hours. Bene is a multi-instrumentalist, audio engineer, and video producer, and more.  If you are involved in the local, live music scene, you probably know Bene. This is such a special opportunity for Greensboro.

H. Lee Waters (1902- 1997) was a photographer from Lexington, NC. When the Depression hit and people stopped getting photos made, Waters started making movies of people in North Carolina communities and then going back to the communities and selling tickets for people to see themselves and their community in the movies. Duke University houses the Waters archives. Bene will treat us to a showing of some of the footage, specifically the videos about Cone Mills.

In the middle, is Evan Morrison, one of the owners of Hudson's Hill and master leatherworker. Give Evan a piece of leather and he can look at it and calculate the size of the purse that can be made from it- and then make that purse. He repairs, creates, and designs. Many of the items at Hudson't Hill are his craftsmanship. Evan will be at the event. A fourth person, who will literally contribute to the local flavor of this event, is Randy Barnes @feedumdogs. Randy will be giving away his gourmet hot dogs (while supplies last).  Drop in today to Hudson's Hill at 527 South Elm Street and check out the event. Masks are required and they will monitor crowds. As you can see in the photo, the screen is in place and ready for your viewing pleasure.

This Old House... 2101 Oak Ridge Road

2101 Oak Ridge in Oak Ridge, also Highway 150, is just northwest of Greensboro. The two story, two bedroom 1 bath house is 1,300 square feet. The small lot house size are not impressive statistics. However, the most notable point of interest is that it was built in 1863 during the Civil War. This old house must have so many stories to tell. Embraced by bamboo, the house has an air of mystery and intrigue.

Nearby Oak Ridge Military Academy was build in 1852. a little over 10 years before this house. At that time, the Oak Ridge area was pretty remote and undeveloped and Greensboro had only been a town for about 50 years. There are several historic homes in Oak Ridge from that era; some even have their own historic markers. The above humble house, at the corner of Linville Road, doesn't have a marker and doesn't even seem to have much about it available online. There are tax records and a mention of updates in 1963. The usual real estate pages doesn't even mention the last time it sold. Could it be that this old house has remained in the same family? If you know about its past, please let it know. If you know about its future, we'd be interested in knowing that, too. Happy Saturday. What adventures await?

The Old Mill of Guilford

The Old Mill of Guilford is such a fabulous piece of history dating back to 1767. It has gone through many changes and a few different owners over the past 253 years. Isn't that amazing that we have the history of this water-powered, grist mill dating back that many years. Truly, it is a point of pride for the community, providing mighty fine milled products: grits, corn meal, pancake mix, oatmeal, breakfast cereal, other grains, and many other products that can be ordered online. 

It is located in in northwest Guilford County, on Highway 68, near Oak Ridge.* The grinding process has remained the same for 200 years. Electricity to run the modern machinery is generated by the waterwheel. The wheel itself is 24' and rotates at a speed of 4.6 RPM. If you want to support a local business and purchase healthy natural products, order from the Old Mill of Guilford. If you are local, give them a visit. At the moment, it is not possible to go inside, but you can pick up products from the front door. They are open daily from 9-5, including Sunday. Needless to say, it is a great place to take photos.

* See their well documented history, HERE.

People of Greensboro: Gayle Hicks Fripp

Today’s photo features Gayle Hicks Fripp in the front room of her Kirkwood home, where she and her husband have lived for the past fifty-five years. Gayle is a retired assistant director of the Greensboro History Museum. She received a BA and MA in history from UNCG, and when she had the opportunity to work at the History Museum, she felt as if the position were specially designed for her. It "tied my life up with a bow."  The requirements were an M.A. in history, experience teaching*, and the ability to work with community volunteers.  She went on to have a 25-year career at the museum. 

Under Gayle’s leadership, many changes and new programs were implemented at the Greensboro History Museum. For example, Gayle shifted the focus of the exhibits from thematic (e.g., transportation, the military, Dolly Madison) to a chronological arrangement. She also designed exhibits that featured ordinary people of Greensboro; they were more representative of the city as a whole. When featuring a neighborhood, she would establish an advisory committee comprised of members of the neighborhood.  There is a permanent exhibit at the museum called “Voices of the City”. She got the idea for the name from an O. Henry short story, “The Voice of the City.” How fitting since O. Henry was born in Greensboro. The 5 by O. Henry performances were Gayle’s idea.

Gayle Hicks Fripp dedicated her career to making the Greensboro History Museum more interesting to visitors and to bringing more people in to visit. As one example, the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition on African-American inventors brought more people to the museum in six weeks than had attended in the previous two years..

Few people know Greensboro as well as Gayle Hicks Fripp. At the end of our interview, we asked her where she would take visitors were she to lead a tour around town. She mentioned the Greensboro History Museum, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, Blandwood Mansion, and some of Greensboro’s neighborhoods. Gayle pointed out that after all, “a city is made up of neighborhoods.” Finally, church history is a passion of hers and, she would include a few on the tour. To be sure, that would be a fabulous introduction to Greensboro. 

What we learned from Gayle Hicks Fripp yesterday could fill a book. If you want to learn more about her, read this article by Jim Schlosser, yet another great voice of Greensboro.

 

*She taught history at Grimsley for a year before taking time off to raise her children.

 

Greensboro: 1045 West Market Street Is Now 1015 West Market Street

Today's post is prompted by the above post card of the Manor Motel. The motel was located at 1045 West Market Street, across from the State Employees Credit Union at Tate Street. According to the post card, Manor Motel was a quiet and restful room with TV, telephone, tile baths, room controlled air-conditioning, heat, and a swimming and wading pool. It was owned and managed by Mr. and Mrs. S.T. Dickinson. Mrs. Dickinson was a teacher in the Greensboro City Schools and at Smith High School when Smith High opened.

On p. 105 of her book "Greensboro," Gayle Hicks Fripp, writes and provides photos that reveal the Manor Motel was demolished by D.H. Griffin to be replaced with a new location for the Central Y, a change that was not without resistance by the local College Hill Community. Construction, by the W.H. Weaver Company, would have happened in the late 60s-early 70s.

The top photo shows the building on now the former Manor Motel site. The Central YMCA became the Royce Reynolds Family Student Life Center, the westernmost building on the campus of Greensboro College. Royce and Jane Reynolds donated $2 million dollars to Greensboro College, where Royce Reynolds was also chairman of the board of trustees. 

So, what was an elegant mansion just west of downtown Greensboro, became a motel, which was replaced by a YMCA, which became a student life center at Greensboro College. When 1045 West Market Street was demolished, the current building on the lot is now 1015, the last property on that side of the 1000 block. Those who are lifelong residents of Greensboro, and are senior citizens, may remember the Dickinsons, the Manor Motel, the Central Y, and the opening of the Reynolds Student Life Center. For us, putting the pieces together involved much sleuthing. We found a vintage postcard, searched the Fripp book on Greensboro, and talked to a long-retired educator who knew of Mrs. Dickinson. Our friend called a retired Smith High School teacher, who called a friend who remembered Ms. Dickinson in the early years of Smith High School (circa 1963). It is so easy for this information to slip away from us and so special when people document and share the stories of their community.

I-40 and the Big Highways around Greensboro

I-40 is the east/west interstate that cuts through the entire state of North Carolina. The first section of I-40 opened in 1957 and was a section between Greensboro and Kernersville. While the highway can get backed up at times, it is a little bit of a badge of honor that Greensboro was where it started. Now, it is 423.6 miles in North Carolina. 

The above photo shows I-40 east at the juncture where one can access 73, 421, 85, 73, and 840. As seen in the above photo, the interstates still aren't that busy yet. So, if you need to go somewhere, the larger highways are pretty efficient these days- especially if you don't need to go downtown

Have a great Thursday and let's hear a virtual honk if you love Greensboro!

Sunday Afternoon on Elm Street

Greensboro has a long and rich history with the Civil Rights Movement. With two historically black colleges and universities in Greensboro, Bennett College and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and several other institutions of higher education, our city pays very close attention to issues related to social justice. Yesterday afternoon, people made their way to Elm Street for Day 2 of protests. The four women above, were passing through the 500 Block of South Elm Street. By 6pm, large crowds of young people from diverse backgrounds had congregated on South Elm. Every indication was that the protests would be peaceful. After Day 1, some storefronts needed to be boarded up. Others, boarded up, just in case. 

Only time will tell the direction events will take. Perhaps Greensboro will again play a leadership role on the continued path to social justice, like they did in the 1960's during the Sit-Ins.  However, we cannot deny that a lot of work needs to be done, regardless where each of us stands on issues. Largely, Greensboro's downtown business owners are known for being allies, supporting people from all walks of life. Hopefully, Day 2 remained peaceful. 

Exploring Summerfield, formerly Bruce's Crossroads.

Exploring Greensboro and the surrounding communities of Guilford County is something fun to do on the weekend. The above photo features the inside of the old Gordon Hardware Store at the Crossroads of Upper Summerfield. The building is one of the historically significant buildings in the National Register of Historic Places district. Most of the buildings in this area date back to the 19th century. Summerfield, formerly Bruce's Crossroads has been a community since 1768.

When 220 North was built in 1952, travelers no longer needed to cross through Summerfield and many businesses, including Gordon Hardware, closed. After nearly 70 years since being a hardware store, the interior still has strong bones, including beautiful hardwood floors. Even the plaster remains is good condition. With so much growth in Summerfield, hopefully the building will be reincarnated as something special.

Have a great weekend. We hope you find something fun to do. After all, in less than 48 hours it will be June!

Read more about the history of Summerfield here.

Field of Poppies for Memorial Day 2020

This house at 2705 Camden Road was build in 1928 and, according to realtor.com, the last time it sold was in 2001. We're guessing that the current owners created this field of poppies to the left of the house. This photo was taken yesterday so you can see that the poppies are in full bloom, just in time for Memorial Day. Traditionally people wear poppies on their lapel on Memorial Day to honor those who died in war. This Memorial Day tradition to wear poppies comes from Canadian soldier John McCrae's poem, Flanders Fields* and has been a tradition since 1915.

For years and while he was still living, you could count on Congressman Howard Coble  to speak at Forest Lawn Cemetery. ** Regardless of whether you wear a poppy or just have a moment of silent reflection today, please consider doing something to remember the American service people who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country. As for this house at 2705 Camden Road, across from Lindley Elementary School, how wonderful that their field of poppies is blooming exactly on Memorial Day. Do you know of any other fields of poppies in Greensboro? 

 

• * read information from the History Chanel, here.
• ** see the last photo we took of Congressman Coble speaking in Greensboro, here.

John Neal Books

John Neal has been in the book business since 1981. In addition to selling books, they have materials for bookbinding, calligraphy, and other paper craft.While the store is on Spring Garden Street, they really emphasize that they are an online business. They explain that the books are in stacks, nothing is priced, many things are in bins. They also explain that they may be there by 9am, then again, maybe not. They may close for lunch, or go home early. But, John reminds us that the website, www.johnnealbooks.com is always open. Hats off to them for being upfront about not letting a business be all-consuming. Those of us who are local are just grateful that it is possible to visit and avoid shipping charges- you just need to call ahead. 

This commercial building, at 1835 Spring Garden Street, was built in 1923 and really evokes the look of early 20th century Greensboro. Just imagine, the building will soon be 100 years old. Hopefully there will be some kind of celebration and we can all learn more about the great history of the building and the area. The corner of Chapman and Spring Garden has had many vibrant businesses.