Greensboro Daily Photo

Pinecrest Road

Pinecrest Road is a quiet street just off of Friendly Avenue in Sunset Hills. It is one of the streets on the route for the "Running of the Balls" walk/run in December. The above house, located on Pinecrest, is a beauty. While not all of the homes in the neighborhood are 2+ stories, the trend is for the smaller homes to get additions once they are sold. The location of this neighborhood, the ability to walk around the block, and talk to neighbors along the way, make this a great place to live.

To be so close to shopping and the hospital, the neighborhood is surprisingly quiet and there isn't much traffic, until, that is, the magical month of December, when the streets are glowing with those giant light balls in the trees.

Friendship Friends Quaker Meeting

The Friendship Friends Quaker Meeting is located in a former private residence at 1103 New Garden Road, directly across the street from the Frank Family Science Building at Guilford College. It is also located in Quaker Acres beside the Friends Home Senior Living Community. On the edge of the property, you can see the little path that has been forged by the senior Quakers who can walk to the meeting house. 

The room where services is held is filled with chairs around the perimeter. In traditional quaker worship, "(a)ttendees are encouraged to speak once "the Spirit finds you", thus meaning one should only speak if the message is good for the community and beneficial to the meeting. A traditional Quaker belief is everyone has "that of God" inside, and everyone's inner light and spirit can be shown."*

There is over 250 years of Quaker presence and influence in Greensboro. Quakers have been a vital part of the local community and were believers in the inherent worth and dignity of all humans and civil rights, from the beginning. They meet at the 1103 New Garden property at 10:30 on Sundays, if you are interested in being a part of this inclusive, spiritual community. Happy Sunday!

*Wikipedia, "Meeting for Worship" visited June 15, 2019.

300 Cornwallis

 

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

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

Happy summer!

Summertime on Katie Drive

Katie Drive is located in northwest Greensboro, accessed from Carlson Dairy Road. The above photo shows a typical house and lot; a midsize-large house of recent vintage; nice landscaping with a woodsy back yard. The wooded areas in the back are a nice buffer from North Battleground Avenue. The neighborhood is filled with families of all ages and stages. Usually there is one house or two for sale, at most,  in this neighborhood located at the entrance to the clubhouse of the Greensboro Country Club, Farm Course.

Most of the houses on Katie Drive have a well-manicured front lawn. The above lawn is mowed with a diamond/ checkerboard pattern. This level of detail, in making a lawn look presentable, is indicative of the pride the residents take in their neighborhood. Yet, families also use their lawns, on these warm summer nights, you see parents out playing with their children, especially playing basketball or riding bikes.

It would be nice to know how Katie Drive got its name. Surely, the developer had a loved one named Katie. If you know, please share the answer in the comments!

Charming House in the Glenwood Neighborhood

This three bedroom/one bath home in the Glenwood neighborhood is located on Highland Avenue near Hertford Street. This house, built in 1928, has the feel of a charming cottage. As you can tell from the entrance stairs, the house is built on a bit of a hill. Not all of Greensboro is flat! The front porch is charming and with the entire front of the house having a wall of windows, it must be nice and bright inside.

The Glenwood neighborhood is incredibly diverse. From college students, to urban farmers, old-time musicians, non-profit workers, single-parent households. two-parent households, to the homeless, Glenwood is a neighborhood where people seem to take great interest in the neighborhood. Residents work hard to help each other. The churches in the neighborhood also do what they can to help the community. Several new amenities have come to this side of Gate City Boulevard. As one example, the Bestway on Walker Avenue has opened a second location on the Northern edge of Glenwood. It is an easy place to bike if you are looking for something to do on this Memorial Day weekend. Let the adventures begin! 

On Bunch Road

Bunch Road is one of those roads that used to be rural, but now has more of a suburban feel. It connects the Northwest High School area to Oak Ridge and Summerfield. The above photo features an older, modest home on the road.  And the mature trees in the yard tower over the tiny house. Look at how beautiful the yard looks on the cusp of everything blooming.

The photo was taken this past Saturday, after the skies were gray for much of the day and then early evening, the sun came out to make everything look fresh and clean. Truly, this house and property is a peek at the Greensboro of yesteryear, back in the day when a small, single story home was enough.

New Structures on Stanley Huff Road

Stanley Huff Road is undergoing quite a bit of change. What was formerly farmland with horses and cows is starting to get housing developments. The above photo shows one of the homes on the 5850 and 5840 lots with structures being built by Greensboro builder Gary Jobe. We're betting they are going to be ultra modern, and built to respect living sustainably; perhaps even LEED certified. The angles and placement of the glass hint at passive solar heating. 

When land that was previously rural farmland gets repurposed for suburban living, it is always nice if great thought is put into the homes. Gary Jobe has a reputation for building quality homes and the landscaping is being done by Green Visions, an indication that "green" is a key concept in the project. Fingers crossed! Hopefully, they will have an open house!

Time to Plow the Fields

If you are so inclined, and you haven't already, it is time to plow the fields! Greensboro has had so much rain lately, it is kind of hard to fit in a planting. So far, it hasn't heated up excessively and cold weather crops are still thriving.

If you love seeing slices of rural America and live in Greensboro, consider taking the back roads to Kernersville or Burlington and you will see many scenes, like the one above, along the way. The above photo was taken on a recent venture to Kernersville. With all the add-ons, this house is actually larger than it looks. And, by the looks of the fields surrounding the house, they take their farming very seriously. Have a great Saturday and, if at all possible, plant edibles and support our local farmers!

Country Roads

The above photo was taken this past weekend on a back road between West Market Street and Kernersville, that area where you can't be completely sure whether you are in Guilford or Forsyth County. This is rural North Carolina at its best; the way things used to be. From the looks of the home, it might not be around much longer. However, the horses look well cared for and happy on the property. 

Greensboro and the surrounding areas have a lot of horse farms. Scenic country vistas, like this one, are quickly being replaced by apartment complexes and Sheetz gas stations. Growth is inevitable and progress is, well, progress; however, there is something special to driving down a country road and enjoying nature in the abundant silence of a warm spring day.

Blue House and Redbud Tree at the Corner of Scott and Walker

This past weekend, the blue house, at the corner of Scott and Walker Avenues, was in its early spring glory with this redbud tree bursting with color. This Lindley Park house is just down the street from Lindley Elementary School and is a prime example of the beauty of a well maintained older home in a well-established neighborhood. The people of Greensboro love their yards and many take great pride in landscaping. Just the right plantings in just the right place can really add beauty to a yard. The blue paint and white trim on the house make that pink tree pop!

The native eastern redbud is one of the first trees to flower in North Carolina, and it is a hardy small tree that can thrive in full sun or light shade. Once the tree is done blooming, heart-shaped leaves will be a vibrant green through the summer and take on beautiful color for fall. Redbud trees stay small and like to volunteer to grow, which means they are hardy and FREE! Let's hope the threat of ice today doesn't damage these glorious blossoms!

The Wishing Tree

The 300 block of East Bessemer Avenue has a wishing tree. Just outside this brick duplex is a trunk of a tree with a sign, inviting you to make a wish and leave something behind. The tree could benefit from a little sparkle and bling. Perhaps if you get some Mardi Gras beads or find an old chandelier prism, you could make the tree look a little more sparkly. Even more important is for you to make a wish and keep your hopes alive.

Have you ever seen a wishing tree? Would you consider creating one? How would you react if your neighbor established one? This household also has one of the bottle trees that is a fundraiser for Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. It seems like this would be an interesting household to get to know. Have a happy Tuesday, and... make a wish!

Homes of Greensboro: Shannon Drive

Greensboro has had some great, sunny, winter days. The above photo was taken earlier in the week, on Shannon Drive at the corner of Golden Gate Drive. The brick home, built in  1955,  is right across the street from Golden Gate Shopping Center; however, it looks like it could be in rural Guilford County. The cul-de-sac, just a couple of blocks from Page High School, is lined with trees and has plenty of greenery- even in winter. 

There was a time when people were leaving these houses, smaller  than 1,000 square feet, for bigger homes in the suburbs. Today, with the appeal of living closer to urban areas and the tiny-home, less-is-more movement, these little homes, with such great bones, are good as gold. This particular home hasn't sold since 1981. We're betting the owners are pretty happy with it.

Along South Chapman Street

Yesterday was a glorious, winter day in Greensboro.  Temperatures were in the 60s and the skies were a palate-cleansing blue. This monochromatic look is so appreciated in January after a highly-decorated, colorful December.

The above photo features a bend in the road in the 300 block of South Chapman Street, very near Our Lady of Grace church. The trees are bare and the sky is even more pronounced, looking so crisp between the branches. You can tell the neighborhood is well established by the size of those trees. Nature is pretty glorious, and Greensboro is a pretty city- even in winter!

 

 

Purple House with Green Door on Beverly Place

The snow is long gone in Greensboro. However, today's photo was taken last week after the snowstorm. Located on the Market Street end of Beverly Place, this house captivates most who drive by. It isn't every day one sees a purple house with a lime green door. The Christmas wreath is the icing on the cake. A house painted in secondary colors really stands out in the snow.

Other than the colors, the house is pretty typical floor plan of many homes in Greensboro. Perhaps the owners were mindful of feng shui. This design concept recommends green or brown for east facing doors. The home is very close to the Greensboro arboretum. Perhaps the owners were inspired by the greenery there. Here's to a great rest of the week, Greensboro (and beyond).

House on Mimosa Drive

This house on Mimosa Drive in Westerwood is right across from the Lake Daniel Park. Built in 1938, it is younger than many of the homes in Westerwood. However, it represents the character of this urban neighborhood. The painted brick home is well maintained, cozy, with charming landscaping. The house hasn't sold for over a decade. When houses become available in this Westerwood, they sell quickly.

If you had been to the chili cook off across the street from this house over the weekend, you would see why. Westerwood is a place where neighbors not only know each other, they enjoy socializing with each other, and work together to keep the area beautiful. 

Lotus Center on Lawndale Drive

Lotus Center is a facility with healthcare professionals who practice holistic medicine on Lawndale Drive near Target. According to their website,* the center houses a pharmacy of over 500 herbs and 200 prepared pills and tinctures. In the front yard, you will notice a tree that was likely uprooted during Hurricane Michael. 

If you notice, these professionals, who are grounded in natural, earth-friendly practices, have taken the tree and are sawing the wood in three inch planks that are about 2 1/2 feet by 7 feet. The wood looks like oak. It is solid, beautiful, with a nice grain. It will be interesting to try to find out what they are going to do with the wood. Whoever is cutting it is doing a fabulous job. The cuts look perfectly level.

*reference, here.

Rankin Place Beauty

Walking around College Hill after Hurricane Michael, it was surprising to see all of the big trees that weathered the storm. This blue and pink beauty at 804 Rankin Place has this giant tree on the left that amazingly held up during the high winds. The house was built in 1905, the tree may have been planted around the same time. Both are going strong. How wonderful. Greensboro has so many lovely places and College Hill is one of the oldest neighborhoods. Somehow this house just looks like it should be painted pink and blue. 

Happy Wednesday. We hope you find time to get out and enjoy the lovely homes of Greensboro before the weather turns and the days becomes short!

House on Meadowbrook Terrace

This house, built in 1925,  on Meadowbrook Terrace in Old Irving Park is a beauty. At over 6,000 square feet, this five bedroom/five bathroom house is much larger that it appears to be when looking at the street view. Those angles add such a distinctive element. While, according to Zillow, it is valued at near the $2million mark, there is not indication that this nearly-100-year-old home will be for sale anytime soon. 

This home is so charming and typical of the combination of elegance and a touch of uniqueness that makes the neighborhood so special. Another bonus, if you are a golfer or one with a robust social calendar,  Meadowbrook Terrace is located close to the Greensboro Country club. Those trees are hinting at fall colors. This yard with mature plantings will be fun to watch as the season changes. Let's hope it didn't suffer any damage from Hurricane Michael. Happy Saturday, from Old Irving Park and beyond!

Halloween at Santa's on Chapman Street

If you are local, you probably remember for decades that Jack True Senior, the Santa of Chapman Street, would sit on his porch and children from miles around would drive by to see Santa. In Greensboro, Santa was real. Mr. True, the True Santa,  left us in 2003 and he is missed greatly by his family, friends, and the children whose lives he brightened. The family has a sign in his honor and son Roger continues to decorate for holidays to keep his dad's memory alive.

If you have time this weekend, drive by and see a little bit of Greensboro's holiday history (on the Spring Garden Street end of Chapman). Somehow, the scene is more impactful at night, when darkness envelops the little white house and the light-up decorations are aglow.

In the 1980s, the community rallied to help the True family continue to afford to live in the house. The gesture was in deep appreciation of the love Mr. True extended to all who believed. Helping others and giving back to the community is deeply ingrained in the spirit of Greensboro. Community service has been a tradition here for as long as anyone can remember.

Howard Street, North of Spring Garden

Howard Street, north of Spring Garden, intersects with Sherwood, near Lindley Park. The above Howard Street home is beautiful. On Saturday, the street was full of mushrooms. The recent damp weather made conditions perfect for mushrooms and they were everywhere. This bundle of spores evokes the lore of European fairy tales and fairy rings. From this angle, the mushrooms seem gigantic, almost overpowering the house.

How about your house? Has it been full of mushrooms? Learning which ones are edible and which are poison is quite an art. If you are interested in learning more, there is always the option of joining the Piedmont Triad Mushroom club. The group is on Facebook. They regularly hold potlucks and workshops, get together and talk about mushrooms... and probably eat them, too. 

Leaves of Tobacco & a Slice of Yesteryear

This charming farmhouse on Highway 158, at the corner of Angel Pardue Road, is located just north of Greensboro and just east of Stokesdale. As you can in the field on the right of the road and on the left, back to the tree line, this house is surrounded by fields of tobacco. While decreasing, tobacco remains North Carolina's number one cash crop and North Carolina is the largest tobacco producer in the United States.*

If you live in Greensboro, it is not uncommon to see scenes like the one above: a charming farmhouse with a wrap-around porch, a sleepy country road, fields and fields of tobacco, or some other agricultural product. Soon, this tobacco will be harvested, the fields will be plowed, and it will be time for planting fall crops- chard, cabbage, collards. If kids are lucky, there will be time for a little harvest fun; perhaps some apple cider made, a corn maze to visit, a hayride, and maybe even Halloween fun. Today's photo is a little slice of a way of life that has existed in North Carolina since North Carolina became a state.

* reference and article, here.

Tiny House Living

Elizabeth and Adam Paashaus can barely contain their excitement. This past weekend, they had a giant yard sale to minimize their possessions. They are selling their Lindley Park home, leaving brick and mortar jobs, and traveling the United States in their tiny home. They will home-school their two children and work remotely through the Internet. Here you see them in the kitchen area of their 40' long Thomas school bus that has been redesigned as a 270 square ft. home. The transformation took over two years with the couple doing the work. The beautiful wood countertops and walls are covered in wood harvested from a farm on North Church Street.

Elizabeth loves to cook and bake, so the couple dedicated ample room to the kitchen space. The bathroom and sleeping areas are behind the white door. Forward, there is a seating area, and just out of sight is a wood burning stove, an especially cozy feature that Elizabeth loves.

Elizabeth, a lifelong Greensboro resident and Grimsley grad, and Adam, first New York and then High Point, will be launching this new lifestyle by mid-October.   They love adventure, outdoor sports and living life to the fullest.Hats off to them for living their dream.  If you want to follow their adventures of living the good life on the road, follow them on Instagram at Deliberatelifebus and read Elizabeth's blog.

Lawndale Drive, the 3500 Block

As we batten down the hatches and prepare for Hurricane Florence, Greensboro residents are trying to determine the best way to remains safe during this weather event. Florence seems to be having trouble making up her mind where she will land and do her damage.

The above photo features a house in the 3500 block of Lawndale Drive, very near a cluster of retail shops at Pisgah Church Road. This ranch house is so typical of the houses that were being constructed in the 1950s in Greensboro. If you notice, the house has a large picture window is surrounded by very mature trees. Greensboro's neighborhoods are full of them (the city comes by its name honestly). Those trees provide lots of shade, they also are in danger of blowing over or having limbs drop during times of storm. Please send positive thoughts our way and be prepared to help if some of our dwellings and businesses suffer damage. As feasible, stay safe... and dry!

 

 

This Old House

Over the last few years, change has been evident in Greensboro. From the widening of Horse Pen Creek, to the opening of more miles of the urban loop, to the new face of midtown, with the addition of all of the new murals, to the changes on South Elm Street, this is not the Greensboro of previous decades.

The above photo is one of the homes closest to the Robert G Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market. It has seen its betters and does not look like it will be long for this world. It will be sad to see it go; however, it will be interesting to see what crops up in its place. This is a prime piece of real estate and will not stay vacant long. Do any readers know what will replace this old house?

Hydrangeas Galore at 133 Paisley St.

In Greensboro, this has been an especially good spring for hydrangeas. The weather has been a bit cooler and sufficiently wet to make these beauties spring to life. Every year, this property at 133 Paisley Street, on the northwest edge of downtown has the most beautiful hydrangeas. The green shingled house appears to be rental property, but the landlord is diligent about mowing the lawn and keeping up with the landscaping. We keep hoping to see someone working outside, so we can ask about these beautiful hydrangeas. Does someone water and fertilize them. Or, do they magically find a way to care for themselves?

Here's to a weekend of admiring the beautiful plants that are blooming around Greensboro and to admiring all of the beautiful yards. If you are near Smith Street Diner, walk around the corner and have a look at these beautiful flowers. Happy Saturday, dear readers!

Happy Friday Near Carlson Dairy

This photo was taken this past Wednesday evening in northwest Greensboro is Carlson Farms. The air was crisp, but warm, and the clouds hovered as if they were right above your head. The evening walk was simply beautiful. Many of the houses built near Carlson Dairy Road were built in the late 1970s. They were stately, giant, dark brick houses out in the suburbs. Some of those homes have 4,000 - 5,000 square feet.

The home in the foreground of the above photo was built about 12 years ago, thirty years later than the older homes in the neighborhood. The lighter brick really makes the light/dark sky simply sing with beauty. May Greensboro find some beautiful spring weather this weekend and, regardless of the weather, have a great weekend!

 

Yellow House at the Corner of Meadowood and Greenview

Nothing says spring like a bright yellow home and bright pink azaleas. Built in 1962, this three bedroom, two bath split level home reflects an architectural style popular in the mid-20th century. This design makes it possible for the adults to be in one part of the house and the teenagers to hang out in another.  The home is located in the Friendswood neighborhood at the corner of Meadowood Street and Greenview Drive, just off Wendover Avenue. You can tell the owners take great pride in the home by the meticulous trim on the azalea, essentially turning it into a hedge.

The gnarly tree on the left is at least as old as the home. It adds charm and character to the lot, reminding us that plantings of all ages have a purpose in landscape. Consider it an overgrown bonsai. If you take Meadowood on your trek two and from Wendover, Sam's Club, or Costco, keep an eye out for this cheerful house. Surely, people who would paint a house bright yellow are cheerful, too.

Even google maps captured the pink square hedge on his house!

Living the Good Life On Walker Avenue

This house on Walker Avenue, in the heart of Lindley Park, is all dressed up for spring. The home is impeccably maintained and the yard has great curb appeal. The owners are nice, neighborly folks, who came out to strike up a chat as we were photographing their flowers. They planted the above tulip bulbs last fall and, this week, the flowers are in full bloom. The tulips provide a great accent to the stone wall.

The house, built in 1928, while only a little over 1,600 square feet, has that wonderful front porch where the owners can enjoy each other and their neighbors on warm afternoons and evenings. Today's photo speaks volumes about life in Lindley Park. From the Arboretum to Bestway, Lindley Elementary School, all the shops, and homes in between, spring has sprung in Lindley Park, and the yards are looking glorious.

Starmount Drive

This house on Starmount Drive, just off of Holden Road, is a prime example of just how beautiful Greensboro is this time of year. On a sunny day, houses simply exude beauty and warmth. This house, built in 1955, has been extended and renovated and is now over 4,000 square feet. Stephen Jobe was the architect of this home that has many custom features, like the dormer and the rounded mahogany front door, that give it lots of curb appeal.

The Starmount Forest neighborhood is located near Friendly Center, Sternberger Elementary, Starmount Country Club, a park, and more. The Starmount name is the English translation of "Sternberger", a very prominent Greensboro family. Emanuel Sternberger was a merchant from South Carolina who moved to Greensboro and joined the Cone Brothers in the production of flannel. Today, the neighborhood, school, street, and Tannenbaum Sternberger Foundation are just a few of the many ways their legacy and impact on Greensboro is remembered today. If you have time this weekend, consider getting lost in one of Greensboro's neighborhoods. You will see so many lovely homes.

Stanley House at 314 Isabel St.

The Stanley House at 314 Isabel Street, on the corner of North Church Street, is billed as a curious colonial revival style house. Built in about 1920, this house is distinctive because of the 2-story Corinthian portico. The stuccoed round arch also sets the house apart from everything else in the Fisher Park neighborhood. Actually, it sets it apart from about anything else in Greensboro. Over the nearly 100 years, it has been beautifully maintained. The landscape is very elegant, too.

The house is actually bigger than it looks. It is nearly 4,000 square ft. We featured it on GDP in 2009 and it still looks the same, except for the more mature landscaping. Historic properties like this one are very fun to seek out on weekends. If you have time today, check it out!

723 North Church Street

This Victorian beauty is a multi-family home located at the corner of North Church Street and East Hendrix, at the north eastern end of Fisher Park.  Built in 1900, it is 3,166 square feet, mighty large for a wooden house built 118 years ago. It has a charming wrap around porch and mature trees on the lot. 

Established in 1901, Fisher Park is known as Greensboro's first neighborhood on what was at one time a swamp. In the early 20th century,  bankers, industrialists, and white collar workers hired the best architects of the day to build their homes here. The above house is as beautiful as it was when first built. One of the great features of Fisher Park is the diversity in the homes. With a little imagination, one can picture the trolley line moving through Fisher Park with trolley cars transporting people to and from the neighborhood. Imagine the maid and other hired help being dropped off at 723 North Church to start their day. From the cut out windows in the attic to the cement stoop to the porch, the details are so fitting.

Merry Christmas 2017

Yesterday's post, with the nativity scene, featured the spiritual aspect of Christmas. Today, we're highlighting a house that is beautifully decorated. By day, you can't see the lights along the roofline with lights on it, but at night, the house is stand-out beautiful. The inflatable Santa, framing the door, and the penguins in charge of mail at the curb add charm to the house. Children love seeing scenes like this.

While Christmas is more than decorating and gifts, when people go out of their way to decorate and bring joy to others the holiday feels really special. We would like to thank this family at the corner of Westminster and Rollingwood Drive for adding a little joy to their Greensboro neighborhood. Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!

Sundown Drive Near Western High

It is hard to believe that this photo was taken last weekend. The snow has melted and, while it has been crisp outside, the weather has been dry over the past week. This one-story, single-family home is located on Sundown Drive, not too far from Western High School. It resembles a winter wonderland. The charming gazebo is so cozy and inviting, it looks like Rolf and Liesl, from the Sound of Music, should be in there singing to each other. 

The house, sitting on a little over a half and acre, was built in 1956 when this part of Guilford County was still really rural. It still seems like a cozy retreat from the busy, built up world just down the street. The property reminds us of just how green and beautiful Greensboro really is, even on a snow day! Happy Saturday, may you find some adventure and explore a new part of the community around you; no matter where you are. 

1007 North Elm Street

1007 North Elm Street is a 9 bedroom, nearly 7,000 square foot house built in 1919.  This is the John Marion Galloway House. Galloway played a leadership role in the tobacco industry in North Carolina. The house, in the English Tudor Period Revival style, was designed by local architect Harry Barton. The rock building material is Mt. Airy Granite. The house has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983. *

According to online real estate records, the house was last sold in 1988. The person who lives there keeps the curb appeal interesting as there is always an original work of art on the front lawn. The current installation is a one-story-tall Christmas tree that it is built out of blue plastic strips- perhaps dry cleaning bags. The artificial tree changes character depending on whether the day is sunny or gray. Greensboro has a lot of original holiday decorations, including the tree featured above.

 

* reference and more information, here.

House at 305 South Elam Avenue

This 1,600 sq. ft. house at 305 South Elam is representative of the charm in the Lindley Park neighborhood. The 1926 single-story home has been well maintained. Details like the wooden swing in the mature oak tree, the cozy front porch, the whitewashed fence, and the bushes that continue to flower all come together to add curb appeal. The mature oak tree, gently curved, high above the house, could well have been planted at the time John Van Lindley lived in the neighborhood. He was the nurseryman who, in the early 20th century, owned 900 acres in this area.

The house is located across the street from the First Moravian Church, which is the reason we first notice it on Saturday. It is amazing the details that are noticed while walking through a neighborhood, as opposed to driving. Perhaps the best feature of this home is being able to sit on the porch and see all of the lively activity at the Moravian Church, especially during the Advent season. The house just sold this past summer, we're betting the new owners will want to stay put for a very long time. Happy Tuesday! Happy exploring your world- our world!

507 South Chapman

507 South Chapman Street has been a "holiday house" since the 1960's. The True family moved into the above rental house on Chapman, near Walker Avenue, in the 1960's when their home caught on fire. By 1970, the True family started decorating the house for Christmas and, for years, Mr. True sat on the porch, dressed as Santa. In 1982, when it seemed like the True family was going to be forced to move from this house, because the owner was going to sell it, the realtor in charge of selling the house, took up a collection around town and was able to raise enough money for the True family to purchase it.

Mr. True, the True Santa, died in 2003, but his son's family has taken over decorating the house and, as you can see from a photo taken yesterday, they continue to decorate and bring joy to the community. At the moment, Halloween if in full force at 507 South Chapman. This is such a warm, southern story of a family that has enjoyed bringing joy to others for nearly fifty years. You can be sure that they will delight us at Christmas, too. The house may be modest and humble, but the spirit is larger than life and has carried on for generations.* Part of us would love to see one of those HGTV shows to come in and make over this house however the family wants. On the other hand, the True family is probably happy with this loving abode just as it is. 

* Reference and more information, here.

Rural Homes, Porches, and Trucks

Lately, we've been featuring some urban homes and places on walking tours of Greensboro. It is also fun to head out in the county and get pictures of rural places. They have so much character. The above photo features a house along West Market Street between the airport and Kernersville. This was taken back when the crepe myrtle was in full bloom. With its color and linear, sprite decor, the truck noticeably matches the house. When we spot something like this, we always wonder if the matching it intentional, or possibly subconscious. Perhaps oxblood, with its purple and dark brown undertones, is a favorite color of the owners.

In southern living, it is not uncommon for the menfolk to gather around the back of the pick up truck for fellowship and relaxation. However, the above home has a small side porch and a wrap around front porch. It would be easy to spend hours socializing on either of them. Enjoy your Thursday, and may you find time to socialize in person today, on a cozy porch or leaning against a vintage truck!

1616 Walker Avenue

1616 Walker Avenue is just a couple of doors down from Aycock Street. It is an attractive home built in 1922. Just think, it will be 100 in five years! It is over 2,100 square feet with four bedrooms. It sold in 2015 and, according to online real estate sites, it has almost doubled in value since the sale. Perhaps updates and renovations have been done. It does, however, also reflect the trend for historic homes close to town to hold their value.

Just yesterday, Preservation Greensboro shared an article about eight classic homes that have sold above market value this year,*  attributing the robust sales to home buyers valuing the history, aesthetic, and convenience of these homes in historic neighborhoods. The website gsohistorichomes.com maintains listings of pre-1940s properties available in the area. This service has to help in generating interest as the trend today is for consumers to do considerable online research before making purchases. 

Wouldn't you love to sit on this porch to people watch and to talk to neighbors as they walked by? You might even invite them to join you to attend the free National Folk Festival, being held in downtown Greensboro this weekend, a mere couple of miles from 1616 Walker!

 

* reference

Westie of Westerwood

This West Highland White Terrier was a big hit on the walking tour of the Westerwood neighborhood this past weekend. He lives behind the First Baptist Church in a part of Westerwood that was known as St. Paul's neighborhood. He guarded the street, especially on the lookout for human visitors and one of the many felines often seen exploring his neighborhood. He is quite proud of his neighborhood. In spite of his role as sentry, Mr. Westie did not bark at us.

In the early 1900s African American families lived on this end of Woodlawn Avenue, an example of early integration, given Westerwood is located on the west side of town and many African-American communities were found in eastern Greensboro. Plumber, cash register repairman, and preacher, were a few of the careers of the men, well-respected community members, on this street. The above house is one of the oldest in the neighborhood, and hopefully, it will be around for a very long time. It looks cozy, is nicely landscaped, and in a fabulous location.

Remember Double Oaks in Westerwood receives community members to stop by for a drink or two on Wednesday evenings and Preservation Greensboro offers a free tour (see yesterday's post).

 

Double Oaks

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

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

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