Greensboro Daily Photo

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.

Charming House in Summerfield

This house is located on Highway 150/Oak Ridge Road in Summerfield at Draper Drive. This is only the side view, the front side is equally charming. This single family home, built in 1902,  must be inhabited by someone who loves the old time ways. Sitting on the porch on an almost-spring day and talking to friends and neighbors about the way the area was 115 years ago when the home was built. The Moravian star in front of the door looks so charming at night and is a not to the Moravian community so prominent here.

If you have the time to drive, and park, and walk, and look, the houses, historic markers, and other interesting sights along 150/Oak Ridge Road are so worth a look. We especially love the homes with markers so that you can read about the provenance. In the meantime, we're just going to imagine that we're sitting on this porch talking about what we're going to plant in the garden and when the robins will return. Happy Tuesday!

At the Corner of Market & Elm

The above photo today was taken at the corner of Market  in Elm Street in downtown Greensboro. Technically, the Genesis Monument in Fisher Park is the geographic center of Guilford County. However, this spot above is where north/south and east/west get determined. The photo is oriented to the west with the courthouse just out of view, across from West Market Street United Methodist Church.

In view, however, is the Jefferson Standard/Lincoln Financial Building, dating from 1927 and at one time the tallest building between Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Today, it is owned by the Lincoln Financial Group. Still, combined with the new part, the complex is a very powerful part of Greensboro's skyline. It would be really nice to have a restaurant at the top, open to the public-- at least on special occasions. Surely, the view is really special. It is on the "bucket list" for the crew here at Greensboro Daily Photo!

 

Nathanael Greene 2020

This photo taken  last  Saturday  night features Nathanael  Greene. Greensboro is named for Greene,  a  major general of the Continental  Army in  the American Revolutionary War. The statue  is located on  South Greene  Street  at Holliday Circle. The 22  foot tall statue was  installed in 2008,  twelve years ago. James  Barnill  was the sculptor. 

Initially, we were concerned  that  the view would be greatly compromised by  the hotel being constructed on the right. As the above photo  shows, there is still room for the sky to show through facing west. With  the sparkly lights of winter, the scene is  so  beautiful. We hope you get a chance to make it downtown  this weekend. There is so  much to do and  the city  is so  beautiful.  Have  a lovely weekend.

Körner's Folly

If you are local to Greensboro and celebrate Christmas, you will want to visit Körner's Folly at 413 S. Main Street in Kernersville. The intriguingly quirky brick house is full of surprises in every room. Plus, local decorators have been called in to compete for "best of show" since a different design team has decorated each room.

Julie Gilmer Körner built the house in 1880 and some rooms in Körner's Folly look more typical of Victorian homes. Other rooms are long and narrow with 5 1/2 ft. ceilings. Many paths to the next level in this 3 1/2-story home consist of two and a half ft. wide stairways. The grand finale is an in-home theatre on the top level, believed to have been the first in America. While you are there, don't forget to vote for the room with the best decorations. And remember, the foyer and the theatre are breathing, but there are other spectacular views, like the one above, sandwiched in between the first and last rooms. Even children have a good time as they look down in the stairwell, participate in the scavenger hunt, and take a spin on the stage! 

Thanksgiving 2019

Finding Thanksgiving "spirit" houses is not nearly as easy as finding yards celebrating Halloween and Christmas. However, there is one great home on the westernmost edge of Kirkwood at 2306 North Lawndale Drive. These houses, just north of Rosecrest Drive have made a real effort to create a sense of community. The above single-family home was built in 1947.

Today, we hope you have a chance to gather and celebrate family, friends, life, and fellowship. May you have a great Thanksgiving, and, if you drive along Lawndale drive, look for the single family dwelling with a yard full of thankfulness.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Northside Baptist Church: A Little History

Northside Baptist Church is part of the Revolution Mill Community. Many of the community members have ties to the neighborhood that date back to the beginning of the 20th century. Cypress, Maple, Church, Cornwallis, Yanceyville, are all streets is the local area. The church, located at 1100 East Cornwallis, was founded in 1907. The building and congregation have changed quite a bit since the early years. However, the vision of loving Jesus and glorifying Christ and sharing God's love through worship remains constant.

To add a little perspective, Greensboro was founded in 1808 and a Baptist church was first consecrated in Greensboro in 1859*, so Northside was founded nearly fifty years after the Baptists first organized in Greensboro. At that time, the above church truly was way north of town! Nearby Revolution Mill opened in 1898 so Northside was built less than ten years later to accommodate the Baptist mill workers in the community, surrounding the mill. The mills in Greensboro have so much history and one of the best places to go to learn more is the Greensboro History Museum.

*reference and additional information, here.

Katja Brown and September 11th

Today is a sad day in American history, September 11th. On this day in 2001, four coordinated terrorist attacks changed America forever. Because planes were an integral part of the terrorist attacks, on that day, American airspace shut down. Katja Brown was en route from Frankfurt to Dallas, Texas on a non-stop Lufthansa flight with her three month old baby and one year old child. Her flight, and 37 other wide-body aircraft, were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland.

Katja, who now lives in Greensboro, remembers the day with great clarity. She is quick to mention the great human kindness of the stranded passengers reaching out to each other as well as the generosity of the local Gander residents. While the local Gander population was fewer than 10,000 people, the city accommodated 6,600 additional people after the incident. Katja likens the residents to magicians, supplying everyone with three hot meals a day, taking people to their homes for hot showers, helping moms by holding and comforting babies, and doing everything they could to bring comfort to the weary and worried travelers. Passengers didn't even have access to their checked luggage.

As documentaries and other works appear, recounting the time in Gander, Katja watches with great interest. Invariably, viewing these works brings back a flood of emotions, and  the event, in many ways, has impacted the direction her life has taken. Katja has seen the Broadway play, "Come From Away", and the 45 minute documentary about the making of the play (watch it here). She is also headed to Concord Mills movie theatre to watch the documentary "You Are Here." She is really looking forward to seeing "Come From Away" in the Tanger Center in Greensboro, fall 2020. To this day, Katja keeps up with some people she met in Gander.

Today, Katja is chair of the Board of the Piedmont Interfaith Council and a board member of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. She volunteers and attends as much as possible to help make the world a little more compassionate, and tries to facilitate opportunities for people to support each other. Truly, Katja is a Greensboro resident making a difference in the quality of life for those in need. She is one of the few people we've featured more than once on Greensboro Daily Photo (see here). 

 

2412 Sherwood Drive

The above house was the last one on the Lindley Park Walking Tour, hosted by Preservation Greensboro this past Wednesday. It was one of the smaller homes, but it holds faithful to the original requirement of the neighborhood for houses be set back from the street. Built after World War II, when Greensboro, like many cities in the United States, was experiencing a housing boom.

The facade of the house features Japanese influences, evoking the sense of a Japanese tea house. During the tour, a woman ran up to the door and knocked. We soon learned that her friend lived there. The friend didn't appear to be home. But then again, what would you do if someone knocked on your door and there were fifty people outside? If only we'd practiced a song, we could have started singing. It was a lovely evening and a fantastic tour. By the end of it, this group of people- united with the singular interest of getting to know more about our great city- just might have been willing to burst out in song. Happy Saturday!

Preservation Greensboro: Tour of Lindley Park

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

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

International Civil Rights Museum

The International Civil Rights Museum, located at 134 South Elm Street, was founded in 2010.   The first Woolworth opened in 1879, and the Greensboro Woolworth in 1929. The Greensboro sit-ins took place there in 1960, when four NCA&T college students weren't going to take no for an answer with respect to their being able to order from the lunch counter. 

In the above photo, the museum looks quiet and empty. However, during special events, the building is packed. It gets over 70,000 visitors annually. Greensboro played an important role in the Civil Rights movement in the 1960's. It is important that this history be remembered. If you have never visited the museum, you owe it to yourself to do so.  Happy Monday!

Christman-Cascade Building

What was once the Cascade Saloon at 408 South Elm Street is now owned by and has been redeveloped by the Christman Company. They have completely renovated the interior and left the exterior in its original form. The building dates to around 1895, around the same time the Christman Company was established. 

If you like history and preservation stories, follow this link to Christman's website and read all of the details. There is even a 16 minute documentary (here). This preservation of Greensboro's heritage is an example of what happens when the City, Preservation Greensboro, and private enterprise collaborate.

The above photo was taken on July 4th, hence the red, white, and blue balloons. The police on bicycles just happened to be patrolling the beat.

Happy Juneteenth 2019

Happy Juneteenth, the oldest known celebration to commemorate the ending of slavery in United States, after the Civil War.* Today's photo features the bust of Dr. Martin Luther King that Wilbur Mapp originally made out of cement. The photo was taken on the MLK holiday this past January, just prior to the ceremony to rededicate the bust in its current location in Ole Asheboro. See here, for a photo of Mapp's family surrounding the work of art, with Jim Gallucci who cast the bust in bronze so that it would last longer.

Dr. King worked tirelessly for equal rights, civil rights. Let us all do something today to celebrate African-American freedom and achievement. Juneteenth is a day to work to aspire to continuous self-development for all and respect for all cultures.

*reference and more information, here.

Old Train Depot

Today's view is from Hamburger Square downtown, looking over at the building at 400 South Elm Street. This building is the Old Southern Railway Passenger Depot. It dates to the late 1800's when it was filled with people and goods coming and going, back when Greensboro was known as the Gate City.

The depot used to have a pointed, chateauesque roof on it.*  The building has not been a passenger depot since 1927, but has been used by Norfolk Southern Railroad as office space. It is a glorious, historic structure that will hopefully get some new windows and be restored to its original glory. Greensboro can be proud with the extent to which original building exteriors have been retained.

*see photo and more information from Preservation Greensboro, here.

Stepping into the Weekend

Last night was a very busy one in downtown Greensboro. You would have thought it was already the weekend. There was a Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball game last night. Plus there are extra people in town for the World Championships in Irish dancing, which is currently happening in Greensboro. That event alone has brought as many as 5,000 dancers and 20,000 spectators into town. 

 

Those public school families who did not leave town, for their long-awaited spring break, seemed eager to get out and spend time with friends and family. Temperatures accommodated, being close to 70 degrees and with clear skies. In the above photo, several young adults, possibly here with the Irish dancers, are heading south on Elm Street, about to wait for the train to pass.Their clothing is as colorful as a bag of Brach's jellybeans! For those who celebrate Easter, we hope the holidays over the next few days are filled with spirituality, tradition, prayer, music, and maybe even a little Easter candy.

Sue Chen Playing the Chinese Dulcimer

Sue Chen, originally from Taiwan, is a graduate of the Beijing Language and Culture University in China. For several years, she has been a Mandarin language instructor in Greensboro. Ms. Chen is also very committed to teaching people about traditional Chinese culture, music and the history of the instruments used to play traditional Chinese music.  In the above photo, she is playing the Chinese dulcimer 扬琴 (Yang Qin) at the Global Education Conference, hosted this past Saturday by Guilford County Schools at Ragsdale High School.

From Ms. Chen, we learned that the modern yangqin usually has 144 strings, and four to five bridges. It can take up to four hours just to tune the instrument. As demonstrated above, the sticks are held, one in each hand, hitting the strings alternately. In the orchestra, the yangqin often adds to the harmony by playing chords or arpeggios. As the yangqin is softer than other Chinese instruments, it is usually positioned at the front of the orchestra, just in front of the conductor. Fortunately, the instrument folds up rather compactly to be transported as Ms. Chen is always giving concerts and demonstrations, so that the Chinese dulcimer and other traditional instruments will gain a wider audience. She is very generous with her knowledge of music, language, and culture. The beautiful sound of the yangqin is very relaxing and was enjoyed by conference participants.

 

Lincoln Financial Group

The Lincoln Financial Group building has changed owners and names more than once, but it continues to be the iconic skyscraper of downtown Greensboro. The gothic revival style architecture of the taller building, built in 1990. fits in with the older, Jefferson Standard building that dates to 1922. It is hard to believe that they have a 68-year age difference. This mighty fortress at the corner of Elm and Market Streets is built from marble, terra cotta, and marble. Julian Price, president of Jefferson Standard Life Insurance, paid in full for his company's headquarters, because he didn't believe in carrying debt. Do you know of any business executives today who espouse the same philosophy?

The orientation of this photo is from the parking lot behind the Grasshopper's baseball stadium. You can tell from the trees that it is early spring. 

Spring Is On Its Way...

 

Signs of spring are here, in Greensboro. Today is a beautiful Saturday. The sun is shining, the early flowers are pushing their way through mulch, pine straw, and leaves from deciduous trees. The above crocus plants are volunteers, staking their space under a sweet gum tree. At long last, Greensboro has a reprieve from rain, with nice weather predicted for the week. By about mid-July, we'll probably be begging for rain.

In the meantime, today is the 238 Anniversary of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. If you are up for it, head over to see one of the most historic events in Greensboro, the Reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Today and tomorrow, there will be events to bring Revolutionary War history alive.

The NC A&T Four Monument

On any given day, especially in February, it is common to see people stopping by this iconic statue on the campus of North Carolina A & T University. Dedicated in 2002, it features Jibreel Khazan (Ezell Blair, Jr.), Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond. Sculptor James Barnhill decided to sculpt the four men marching as they left the February 1, 1960 sit in, as opposed to their sitting. He said he felt like this position had a stronger visual impact.*

Dressed for church, it was with great pride and joy that this family posed in front of  the statue on a quiet Sunday morning on campus. What a wonderful way to help children remember history and learn about a monumental event that impacted our country. 

* reference and more information, here.

Buffalo Presybterian Church

Buffalo Presbyterian Church has been a Greensboro institution since 1756, over 50 years before Greensboro became a city. That is a lot of history, a lot of congregations, and a lot of change. It was settled by Scotch-Irish who came from Scotland to Ireland to Pennsylvania and then settling here. The church has so much rich history in the community and they have maintained documentation of this history.

The church has expanded over the years, yet they have maintained as much character of the original site as possible. When the sanctuary expanded, they went to great lengths to see that the new brick matched the original brick. The acoustics in the sanctuary are reported to be very good. Let's all attend a service and see for ourself. This church is so significant to the Greensboro community. See a very different photo of the church (here), taken by GDP a decade ago.

A Decade of Greensboro Daily Photo

Today, Greensboro Daily Photo celebrates ten years of posting a photo a day of Greensboro. That is 3,650 photos and double the paragraphs about this city without missing a single day. Just when we question our commitment to this community service venture, we receive positive comments from grateful readers. Positive feedback and words of encouragement have a way of sustaining this labor of love for our great community. A big spark of motivation in 2018 came from Maria Johnson's article about GDP, featured in the February 2018 edition of the O. Henry Magazine.*

Greensboro has changed considerably since we started posting in 2009. In 2011, the 78,323-square-foot indoor Greensboro Aquatic Center opened and it is so popular it is already slated for expansion. Downtown Greensboro has really become a destination, especially with the addition of LeBauer Park, opening in 2016.  Housing options downtown have burgeoned. The whole brewpub industry has flourished. Access to live entertainment is growing. Greensboro hosted the National Folk Festival from 2015-2017,  and is now the permanent home of North Carolina's Folk Festival. Once the Tanger Performing Arts Center is completed, even more entertainment will come to town. Midtown has branded itself as a destination. Greensboro has gone from hardly any murals to a city with a great many murals. The highway system continues to expand. These are only a few of the differences we've documented over the last decade.

In the above photo, we are actually about an hour south of Greensboro in Candor (known for its great peaches). We were out exploring, and discovered a great little Mexican grocery store in Candor, "La Tienda Yurirense". Shopping under a ceiling draped with piñatas is so absolutely festive and joyful, we decided this would be our "Mr. and Mrs. GDP" photo for the year. We hope we can sustain Greensboro Daily Photo a little longer. If you will keep reading, we will keep sharing the people and places of Greensboro, and just a little bit beyond.

Read yesterday's post, here, if you want to see some GDP highlights from 2018.

* Click here to read about the O. Henry Magazine article about GDP and here to find the whole article on p. 33.

Brown-Gardiner in the Snow

Brown-Gardiner bills itself as "The Place to Be", an old-fashioned pharmacy and soda fountain that has served Greensboro for over 59 years. Part pharmacy, part restaurant, part social gathering place, indeed, Brown-Gardiner is an Irving Park institution. When you enter, depending on the time of day, you either smell bacon frying or that subtle medicinal scent of the pharmacies of yesteryear.

Congressman Howard Coble was known to eat here.  When in his Greensboro office, all he had to do was cross the street for lunch. It is highly likely that a lot of community input came his way over the lunch counter. While, unfortunately, Congressman Coble is no longer living, there is every indication that Brown-Gardiner will be around for a very long time. The building at 2101 North Elm Street, with its Carolina blue brick and awning, is even more prominent after a snowstorm. 

 

Luminaries & Reading Day

At UNC Greensboro, Reading Day is a protected day; students cannot have any tests or assignments due. The University provides fun activities to help relieve the stress students feel as they enter the exam period. On UNCGs campus, since 1969, student groups have been lining walkways with luminaries, and since 2014, they have maintained the tradition of lighting the Vacc Bell Tower.

Last night was magical as students stood at the base of the bell tower on Spring Garden Street, listening to holiday music played on the bells, surrounded by luminaries and decorated trees, and drinking hot chocolate. A few staff members brought their children by to enjoy the event. For those students who got out and walked around campus, Reading Day had to have felt a little special.

The Greensboro of Yesteryear

This photo of the Greensboro Farmers Market on Yanceyville looks like it could have been taken in 1874 when the market first opened. Shoppers are crossing the footbridge as the market (on the left) was closing. The farmers market is a place, not only to purchase great produce, but also to meet and interact with other people interested in supporting local businesses and eating nutritious food.

With the monochrome finish of the photo, the woman in the beautiful, long, white coat looks like she could be straight out of a Russian novel. Let's pretend she is the smart, cheerful, funloving Natalya Rostova in Tolstoy's novel, "War and Peace."  Natalya may well be the only Russian heroine who is still smiling after a thousand pages!*

Cone Mills was founded in 1895, about 21 years after the above farmers market. Can't you just imagine a wealthy woman out ƒor a stroll on an overcast morning in November, in that very part of town? While the new structures in Greensboro are lovely, it is always fun to seek out views that haven't changed much over the last century.

See you tomorrow, or as they say in Russian, "До завтра."

*reference and more examples of famous heroines in Russian novels, here.

Southeast Bottle Club's 2018 Greensboro Bottle Show

Yesterday, the Southeast Bottle Club held their 17th Annual Greensboro Antique Bottle & Collectibles Show at the Yanceyville Farmers Curb Market. There were 160 dealer tables with a selection of everything from antique bottles, jugs, insulators, advertising signs, and other collectibles related to bottles. They not only sold, but gave free appraisals. Appraisals always bring people out, even those who don't collect. The show started at 9am on Sunday and from nine until noon, it was packed. By 2:00 pm, when today's photo was taken, people had left and many dealers had packed up, too.

The upside of crowds dispersing is that dealers have all the time in the world to talk while they are painstakingly wrapping every single bottle by hand. Soda/pop bottles was the largest category offered at the show. Also popular were poison bottles, on average, ranging from $40- $100. Poison bottles were textured, so that people fumbling around in the dark or those whose vision was failing them, could tell by the feel that the bottle contained poison. Old bottles with labels intact are especially valuable. Some vendors had bottles of medicine made right here in Greensboro. If you are a bottle collector, you probably know that Vicks salve was created by Lunsford Richardson, a Greensboro pharmacist in the late 1800s. While he had a total of 21 home remedies, Vicks was the best-selling product. Got bottles? Check you attic and closets. You just may have great-great grannie's medicine bottles filled with a product made in Greensboro. Hold on to your bottles and take them to the show next year to get an appraisal. The show is held the third Sunday in November.

 

 

 

Southern Railroad in Gibsonville

Southern Railway in Gibsonville can trace its roots to the 1830s. This bright red caboose in the heart of downtown, is open to the public and young children delight in walking through it. In 2016, a plaque was placed in front of the caboose, informing readers that the town is named after plantation owner, Joseph Gibson, who had the area graded, making it possible for trains to travel from Charlotte to Morehead City. Once the railroad came through, Gibsonville industrialized, with textile mills being a key industry. 

It is hard to remember how much North Carolina used to depend on rail transport, how much North Carolina depended on cotton mills, on how much things have changed with cars, cell phones, computers, iWatches, Uber, virtual office headquarters, and all. Fortunately, in Guilford County, we have cozy little communities like Gibsonville, with artifacts like this little red caboose to keep history alive. If you want to see more, head to Gibsonville's "Lighting of the Greens" next Friday from 6-8pm. For now, celebrate Friday, the start of a weekend, and the beauty of our part of the country- then, and now!

The Barn at Coble Farm

The barn at Coble Farm looks so majestic up on the hill above West Friendly Avenue and near Guilford College. Those who follow local news know that it will be torn down as the nearby Quaker-affiliated retirement community, Friends Homes, expands. The possibility exists that someone can move the barn, although to do so would be quite expensive. This barn on a farm, once known as Sunnyhill Dairy, has already been moved once. In the 1940s, German prisoners of war were paid 80 cents a day to move it across the street to its present location.*

Word has it the barn is not in the best of shape; however, with that beautiful roofline, character, and the local history behind the structure, it would be fabulous if the architect for the retirement community could somehow build it into his plans. After all, they could hold barn dances there and invite the local community. Maybe the barn will be lucky enough to find a new home.

* reference and more information, here.

Gibsonville Garden Railroad

On the first Saturday of the month from 9am until noon, from April to December, the Gibsonville Garden Railroad comes alive. This little community that straddles Guilford and Alamance Counties has train aficionados who set up tracks and guide model trains through the park, while small children and adults alike watch with great joy.

According to their community website, the railroad garden on Main Street was founded in 1996 by Bobby Summers, a retired Freight Conductor on the Southern Railroad.* The 2,200 feet of covers a lot of North Carolina including Blowing Rock, Pilot Mountain, and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

On November 16th, from 5:30 to 8:30, Gibsonville will host their annual "Lighting of the Green" and weather permitting, the trains should be moving around the track. The antique store across the street will serve free pintos and cornbread and many groups will be singing. If you want to experience a great community event, take the 15 mile drive east of Greensboro and let the festivities begin.

*reference and more information, here.

New Garden Friends Halloween Graveyard Tour

Every Halloween, retired Guilford College Professor of Quaker  and Religious Studies, Max L. Carter, leads a tour of the cemetery behind the New Garden Friends Meeting on Guilford College Road. Last night, approximately 100 people gathered as Max wove Quaker lore and American history in with personal facts about people buried in the cemetery.* Given the recent killings, last night's tour had a special emphasis on social justice. Quakers are pacifists, helped lead slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad,  and have done so much to help advance the cause of social justice throughout the world. While being Quaker is not a requirement for being buried in the cemetery, most people at least have ties to the community. As an example, poet and UNCG professor, Randall Jarrell, was not a Quaker but loved taking walks through the cemetery.

Above, Max is featured holding his father's lantern that was used on their family farm in Indiana when he was growing up. Behind him are some of the interpreters who appeared "in character" at the graves to tell you about the people who are buried there. Max, who retired from Guilford College three years ago, knows the graveyard so well that he could effortlessly run through it on a moonless night, explaining who is where from memory. His pace was brisk, because he wanted to fit in as much information as possible. After the walk, everyone was invited in to the fellowship hall for coffee, hot chocolate, and tea. Everything was perfect about the evening- even the weather.

The November City Daily Photo theme is FRIEND and this photo is a natural, as Quakers are also known as Friends. See other friends from around the world, here.

*learn more about the event, here.

 

(Formerly) Southside Hardware on South Elm Street

Yesterday's post about the alley off of Lewis Street resulted in a wonderfully informative comment from Nollie W. Neill, Jr. whose family had a business in that alley. His family's foundry was Glascock which moved to West Lee Street (Glascock Stove & Manufacturing Co.). He also wrote that a tornado on April 2, 1936 damaged and destroyed many of the buildings in the Lewis Street/South Elm area. 

We'll try our luck today and post a photo of the Southside Hardware Company buildings from the back, the MLK, Jr. Drive side. The other side of the buildings faces South Elm Street, a block up from yesterday's post. For now, we can only show the signage as Google searches aren't resulting in any information. There is a Southside Hardware in High Point. Does anyone know if they are related?

Cascade Saloon

The Cascade Saloon on South Elm Street is almost back in business. Built in 1895, The Cascade was a place for people to socialize, dine, and have a drink, whether just making a visit to town or about to embark on a train ride at the nearby depot. The architecture of the facade is so typical of  storefronts during the late 19th/early 20th century.

While the building has sat empty since 1960 and was at the brink of collapse, thanks to Preservation Greensboro and the Christman Company, it is being renovated. Christman, a construction company will be headquartered there. So, while you won't be able to go in for a meal, all who drive by will be able to see a very lovely building restored to its original splendor, and then some. Have a look at where the building was photographed for Greensboro Daily Photo last year and learn more about the Christman Company, here.

General Nathanel Greene by Night

The statue of General Nathanael Greene is the main feature of the traffic circle on South Greene and McGee Streets. The monument appears to have gotten some new lighting and greenery. When the sun sets behind the statue, the display can be dramatic and colorful. However, at night, when the sky fades to black and lighting illuminates the scene, the effect is equally beautiful. It is as if the greenery at the base makes the marble pedestal and the patina of the statue even more prominent.

The 22-foot statue, sculpted by James Barnhill, was dedicated ten years ago, in 2008. During the American Revolutionary War, General Greene led troops in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. While the results of the battle were not favorable for Green and his men, it weakened the British and helped result in America winning the war. Indeed, Greensboro's namesake looks majestic on the 10 ft pedestal standing guard at the south end of the city.*

*if you like learning about commemorative landscapes of North Carolina, explore this site, hosted by UNC. See, here, for a very different view of the statue, not long after it was installed.