Fall 2014
WHAT’S INSIDE Old Mill remains vibrant
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The rich history of Laughlin School
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Key “Did you knows?” for homeowners
Outdoor living spaces
8 10 12 24
How a town evolved around a train depot
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Roadwork in progress Unique custom birdhouses
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At Home, a little of this and that In planning the editorial content for our fall at Home in northwest Guilford County, we naturally wanted to include articles about homeownership and living spaces. But most would agree that our home extends to the community we’ve chosen to live in, so with all the road construction underway in our area, we also wanted to incorporate an overview of the I-73 project, the widening of U.S. 220, and other current and potential road and intersection projects coming down the pike that will greatly affect our northwest community. And finally, we welcomed the opportunity to touch on some of the rich history that our northwest communities share.
Just as with our weekly community newspaper, the Northwest Observer, our staff has worked hard behind the scenes to bring you a publication that is full of articles we hope you’ll find interesting, informative and entertaining, and to find the advertisers to make this publication possible so that we can bring it to you free-of-charge. And as so often is the case, we ran out of room long before we ran out of ideas for stories about yesterday and today, and glimpses of what’s to come, so we promise to bring you more of the same when we return with our spring at Home. We hope you enjoy, Patti Stokes, president/owner PS Communications
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Fall 2014
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‘Mill family’ ensures
Old Mill of Guilford remains a vibrant enterprise
by KRISTIN KUBLY
Visitors traveling north on N.C. 68 into Oak Ridge are treated to a welcome sight when they pass by the picturesque Old Mill of Guilford and its iconic red wheel. Owned by Amy and Darrell Klug since 2008, the mill long ago became an icon of Oak Ridge, and proudly appears on its town seal. But though most local residents are aware of the mill’s rich history, many don’t realize the unique products the mill offers for sale. “There are still quite a few people who don’t know that we’re a working mill with
a country store,” says Amy Klug. “Some people think we’re just a working mill. A lot of people think we’re just a museum.” In fact, the Old Mill of Guilford is one of the oldest operating mills in the country. The mill dates back to 1767, when Daniel Dillon built a public grist mill on the Reedy Fork of the Haw River at the mouth of Beaver Creek. Legend has it that the mill was seized in 1781 by General Cornwallis on his way to fight General Greene at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The second owner, Joel Sanders, bought the mill for $900 in 1808 and in 1819 moved the mill 500 feet down-
Photo by Kristin Kubly
Owner Amy Klug and volunteer Carola Schroeder bag mill products to ship countrywide.
stream to its current location. He also built a new dam across the creek in order to increase the size of the millpond. In the succeeding years, the mill changed hands and underwent several renovations, including replacing the
water wheel in 1913 with a turbine. A major challenge occurred in 1932, when N.C. 68 was built between the dam and the mill. This forced the owner
continued on page 20
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Laughlin School has rich history Building transformed from ”colored school” to high-tech teacher training center
by KRISTIN KUBLY SUMMERFIELD – Enter the Laughlin Professional Development Center on Summerfield Road, and you will see technology-laden rooms dedicated to training a new generation of teachers. Look a little closer, however, and you’ll see the creaky wood floors, old metal hand sinks and ‘50s-style checkerboard tile that are testament to several past generations of children who were educated there. What is now a high-tech teacher training center was originally home to
Laughlin School, the first in northwest Guilford County to formally educate African-American children.
For 145 years, its students experienced continuous and monumental change, including post-slavery reconstruction, the civil rights movement, integration and the explosive growth of Summerfield. When the building was transformed into Laughlin Development Center in 2012, Linda Zenns, an induction support coach, researched and wrote a history of the school. What she expected would take an afternoon to complete ended up taking months and becaming a labor of love. To compile information for her project, Zenns did library research, spoke with former students and even visited graveyards.
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Gary Clark, left, and his brother James Clark, right, stand on the steps of the original entrance to Laughlin School. The Clark brothers were students at Laughlin School in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Gary Clark, who went on to become a successful financial investor and author, was a member of Laughlin’s last graduating class in 1965.
“It was just bits and pieces, but then it all kind of came together,” Zenns said. “It was an adventure, but I loved every minute of it.”
Post-Civil War era: Sabbath school Laughlin School’s roots trace back to the area’s first Sabbath school, which
Photos by Kristin Kubly
Inset: Hundreds of children climbed the steps of Laughlin School’s original entrance. Above: The inviting new entrance to the Laughlin Professional Development Center leads visitors to this breezeway, which enters into the office.
was created in 1866. “Sabbath schools were all over the South,” said Zenns. “They were called that because the freedmen would use the churches to educate their children during the week, and then they would have church on Sunday.” The Sabbath school in Summerfield opened in the present Peace United Methodist Church on Scalesville Road with 21 male students and 22 females. Two Quaker women from Pennsylvania traveled to Summerfield to teach the children of former slaves. Unfortunately, they were scared away after the Ku Klux Klan paid a visit to their boarding house. But the school continued, and sometime in the early twentieth century, it got its own facility – a two-room building with no electricity and wood stoves for heating. Along with its new location at the
corner of Summerfield Road and Oak Ridge Road (which is now the parking lot for Summerfield Town Hall), it also got a new name: Summerfield School.
Depression and war: Summerfield Colored School As the area’s population of AfricanAmerican children grew, so did the need for a larger school that offered high school classes. The Guilford County Schools Board of Education agreed to build a school in Summerfield that would serve students of color in both Summerfield and Oak Ridge. The Summerfield Colored School opened in 1934, during the height of the Depression, with five teachers and about 190 students. The school served first graders through seniors, all in a brick building
Debbie Barrow
continued on page 30
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Did you know?
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the house and is essentially a second mortgage.
Know your boundaries Barbara Hall, managing partner with Triad Land Surveying in Kernersville, recalls a conversation regarding the importance of getting a survey on a piece of property an acquaintance was purchasing – before closing on the deal. He decided against it. Later on, she heard from him again – right after he found out half of the house on the property he had purchased was on someone else’s land. A professional land survey would have revealed this startling news before the property purchase rather than after. While this is one of the more extreme cases, Hall says she hears similar things all the time. Someone builds a driveway, a fence or a building on another person’s property, or a buyer purchases a house thinking that the portion of lawn the former owner was maintaining was theirs when most of it belonged to the neighbor. “Whether you use us or someone else, I highly suggest you get a survey,” says Hall. “Everybody needs to use every possible resource to find out everything they can about a property before closing.” As an alternative to a survey, people mistakenly rely on sellers or real estate agents to show them the boundaries of a property. Or, they’ll decide to do it themselves using a metal detector to find the metal posts that mark the corners of the
Fall 2014
property. These people, as the old saying goes, “are playing with fire.” Ronald D. Ingle, Jr., attorney at Ingle Law, PLLC in Oak Ridge, agrees with Hall that surveys are a must. The only time Ingle says a survey would not be needed is if the previous owner had a recent survey done. Hall points out that the lack of a survey could negate benefits offered by title insurance should a disagreement arise involving boundary issues. “If you don’t get a survey, you cannot get a title policy that addresses issues of survey,” she says. “Title insurance protects the lender from any title issues relating to the property that a survey would disclose, but not the owner,” adds Ingle.
Having a balance on an equity line is usually not an issue as long as the attorney and lender know about it and the homeowner will have the money to pay it off at closing. However, there are many people who are not aware that the balance on this loan must be paid in full and the account closed before the property closing takes place. Then there are those who have an equity line and have never used it, have forgotten that they have one or maybe never even realized there was one attached to their home. Regardless, all equity lines must be closed before any property transfer. Not dealing with equity lines upfront can cause delays in closing. Keep in mind that the way in which the equity lines are closed can vary. For some lenders, it simply takes a trip to the bank and a few minutes. With others, it might require a few days to do paperwork.
Cashing in on Paid in full home equity ... or not Home equity lines are often late-inthe-game revelations that can throw a wrench into an otherwise stress-free closing or refinance. With a home equity line, a borrower uses the equity in his home as collateral for the loan. This creates a lien against
Jon and Rachel were only a couple of days from closing on their current home and were looking forward to moving into their new home on the lake. Suddenly, the attorney applied the brakes when it was
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Roadwork in progress Several road projects underway, or soon to begin, will bring major changes to the northwest area by KRISTIN KUBLY NORTHWEST GUILFORD – Noticed a number of earth movers and excavators around town? Get used to them, because in the next few years, you will be seeing many more as a number of major road projects get underway in northwest Guilford County. Here is what to expect in the coming months.
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One of the largest road projects in the area, the new I-73 route is a 9.4-mile, four-lane interstate highway that will begin at the existing Bryan Boulevard/ Airport Parkway interchange, cross over N.C. 68, and end at U.S. 220 near the Haw River. The connection at U.S. 220 will then carry traffic north into Rockingham County. Also known as the U.S. 220/ N.C. 68 Connector, I-73 will run just east of Oak Ridge and through Summerfield, crossing over Alcorn Road, Bunch Road, Brookbank Road, Deboe Road and N.C. 150 as it winds through northwest Guilford County.
taxiway bridge at Piedmont Triad International Airport that will cross the future I-73. The expectation is that the taxiway bridge, which begins at Caindale Drive, will spur development by providing runway access to over 600 acres of land owned by PTIA on the north side of the future highway. While the I-73 project is federally funded, funding for the taxiway bridge was provided by the N.C. Mobility Fund, which provides money to expedite transportation projects that meet statewide or regional needs. If you drive down Bryan Boulevard near the airport, you may have noticed the grading activities that have begun for the taxiway bridge. Originally slated to begin in 2016, the taxiway project, along with a strip of I-73 to connect Bryan Boulevard to N.C. 68, is already underway. Construction of the bridge itself is expected to begin this November and to be completed by August 2016. Near the airport, I-73 will connect to Bryan Boulevard, which in turn connects to the I-840 interchange. This section will also link up to the western section of the Greensboro urban loop now under construction.
In the planning stages for almost 20 years, this project has been a top transportation priority for both Rockingham and Guilford counties. The $176,550,000 contract was awarded in April by NCDOT to the design-build team of Flatiron Constructors, Inc./ Blythe Development Company – A Joint Venture/RK&K, LLP.
DOT division construction engineer Patty Eason explained that the new configuration will result in a road name change: “The connector will basically merge with Bryan Boulevard there at Regional Road and will become I-73 all the way to where the I-840/I-73 interchange is.”
Part of the project, called the I-73 Connector, will include construction of a
Eason said the section of the current Bryan Boulevard from N.C. 68 to the
interchange will not be called Bryan Boulevard anymore, but will be renamed I-73. The U.S. 220/N.C. 68 Connector project will bring some changes to northwest area residents’ daily commute. The highway will have interchanges at N.C. 150 and N.C. 68, necessitating new traffic signals, one at each of the ramp intersections. In addition, turn signals will be added to some of the existing signals along N.C. 68. The good news is that NCDOT has no plans for any long-term road closures. “All existing traffic will be maintained as much as possible,” confirmed Eason. However, Alcorn, Bunch, Brookbank and Deboe roads, as well as N.C. 150, will have temporary lane closures at some point. In addition, those roads may have some weekend closures while the highway is tied into the existing roadways. Neighborhoods closest to the path of the new road, which include Sterlingshire in northwest Greensboro and Abingdon, Trotter Ridge, Armfield and Henson Forest in Summerfield, will be more directly affected. However, Eason said early planning helped mitigate the impact on some of those neighborhoods. “Henson Forest and Armfield both did a great job years ago, before they even started building their first house in either of those developments,” Eason said. “In fact, NCDOT design folks worked with Henson Forest on where they were locating their entrances and their pool and those kinds of things.” Eason said all potential homeowners in those neighborhoods were given maps of the future road.
“I think they did a good job up front in letting everyone know the project was coming, so I don’t think we’ve had anyone who was not at least aware of the project,” she said. While the new highway will undoubtedly change the rural character of the area, NCDOT is trying to keep as much access for pedestrians and bicyclists as possible. At the Summerfield interchange, two pedestrian tunnels will be added, one north of Brookbank Road and one north of Deboe Road.
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Oak Ridge Town Manager Bruce Oakley believes that overall, the highway will be beneficial for his town. “Everyone is happy that mainly the truck traffic will get off 68,” he said. “We’re pretty excited about that, since it will relieve some congestion.” Oakley said he doesn’t think the reduced traffic through town will hurt business. “We expect mainly to alleviate truck traffic,” the town manager said. “We expect the car traffic to be maintained at pretty high levels, so it will not have any impact on the local businesses.” Eason believes the road will also help reduce truck traffic through Summerfield. “The other positive thing is the traffic portion of it, at least through Summerfield, from Rockingham County down to just south of 158,” said Eason. “That will be I-73, but then I-73 will take off westward, and hopefully it will reduce the number of trucks coming down through the urban, populated area of 220 and
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SUMMERFIELD – There’s one word to describe Terry King’s birdhouses – amazing. That same adjective describes this unassuming artist whose creativity, raw talent and resourcefulness have resulted in uniquely beautiful pieces of art.
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Terry grew up working in tobacco. In high school, he became interested in music and began playing the trumpet. He went on to attend Western Carolina University and major in music, but just a year shy of obtaining his degree, he was called home to help operate the family farm. Terry and his wife, Wendy, now live in Summerfield on the farm once owned by his great-grandfather. Terry, 52, began creating birdhouses to supplement his income. He got the idea for his particular style after seeing a birdhouse in a shop in Southport Beach, North Carolina, about 20 years ago. “I saw where someone had sawed up a Coke crate and made a birdhouse,” he remembers. “Coke crates were
becoming valuable and I didn’t want to cut up my crates, so I started building the houses and painting them (with the Coke logo).” After building his birdhouses from exterior plywood, Terry primes and paints them with exterior paints. To make them cleanable, he has come up with a hidden hinged side that can be unscrewed and lifted. At the end of the season, the nesting material can be emptied to prepare for the next feathered occupant. Terry doesn’t use decals or stencils, rather draws the designs on each birdhouse freehand and then painstakingly paints in the details. Each one takes him up to a week to complete, and every single one has to meet his exacting standards before he’ll allow it to leave his studio. Although the birdhouses are made to withstand the elements, most end up inside as decorative art. They can be found in homes throughout North Carolina, Florida, New Jersey and California, and there’s even one in France. Former
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continued from page 11 Summerfield for sure. So hopefully that will help improve safety too.” Work will begin this month, starting at N.C. 68 just south of Oak Ridge and continuing northward. The new highway should be open to traffic in late 2016 or early 2017.
FUTURE
I-73
Sy lva nia
U.S. 220 WIDENING Anyone traveling through Summerfield is very aware of the U.S. 220 widening, under construction since May 2012. This project is turning a 13-mile stretch of U.S. 220 from a twolane road to a four-lane limited-access highway from Horse Pen Creek Road in Greensboro to Rockingham County.
Rd
ill Rd rn M u b Og
Eason said the contractor is currently running about 15 to 20 percent behind schedule due to last year’s rains, but the project is still on track to be finished by August 2016.
De bo eR d
Stokesdale
Brook bank Rd
Oak Ridge
Summerfield Bu nc hR d
Eason said DOT has listened to those concerns.
Alco rn Rd d eR idg R t n asa Ple
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The new $96.2 million road will include a median with limited turns. The median has caused some concern from local responders because it means fire trucks will have to travel farther down the highway and exit at a cloverleaf exchange in order to cross back over the highway to get back on U.S. 220 and travel in the opposite direction.
Bryan Blvd
“We involve the emergency services, and any of the response folks, in with the project from public hearings all the way through,” she said. “We’ve provided some turnarounds if they do have to make a U-turn to come back around, so we do try to always take their comments into consideration in the design.” The median is not the only change drivers will have to get used to. The newly widened road will also have “jug handles,” or places where the road is taken out a greater distance to allow for easier U-turns. The jug handle requires
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Fall 2014
drivers to exit right and travel into a Ushaped lane across the road to eventually turn left. The jug handles on U.S. 220 should make it easier for large fire trucks or other big vehicles to maneuver since they won’t have to make sharp left turns from the highway. Another change will occur at the intersection of U.S. 220 and Hamburg Mill Road. Once the road is widened into four lanes, drivers on Hamburg Mill Road will be able only to turn right, going south, onto U.S. 220. Drivers going north on U.S. 220 who want to turn left onto Hamburg Mill Road will have to use a “Left Over,” similar to that which enables southbound U.S. 220 traffic to enter the Harris Teeter shopping center near Horse Pen Creek/Old Battleground Road. The southern end of Strawberry Road, at its intersection with U.S. 220, will be closed for about 30 days sometime later this fall or early 2015 while this intersection is raised 3.5 feet. “The contractor has not scheduled that work yet, but we will do a press release and place message boards to let the public know before that happens,” said Eason. Walkers and bikers who currently like to exercise near the Summerfield Athletic Park will be happy to learn that DOT has not forgotten about them. A pedestrian tunnel is planned near the park, just south of Winfree Road. While this project has been a long time coming and seems to be never ending, Eason reminds citizens there is a “light at the end of the tunnel.” “There’s a lot of traffic on 220 and a lot of trucks, so we ask for citizens’ patience in this process until we can get this thing completed,” said Eason. “But I think in the end, having a four-lane divided highway will improve their drive, they will experience less congestion and they’ll be able to make their commute on a daily basis more quickly.”
N.C. 68 IMPROVEMENTS In recent years, a number of rear-end accidents have occurred on N.C. 68 at East Harrell and West Harrell roads, the most recent being a fatal collision on May 6, caused by a truck rear-ending a car waiting to turn left onto East Harrell Road. In fact, N.C. 68 saw 46 accidents at those two intersections between 2007 and 2012, prompting NCDOT to make major changes to that stretch of N.C. 68. West Harrell Road has been closed to traffic since January 2013. The next step is to move the entrance to East Harrell Road farther south on N.C. 68, near the top of the hill, rather than at the bottom, and install a left-turn lane. Bartonshire Drive will also get a left-turn lane. NCDOT has already started work on that project, which should be completed by May 2015.
POTENTIAL ROAD PROJECTS U.S. 158 IMPROVEMENTS While the U.S. 220 widening is happening now and I-73 is imminent, another project, the possible construction of a widened U.S. 158 bypass around Stokesdale, is up in the air. The U.S. 158 project, estimated to cost $105 million, would widen 18.8 miles of U.S. 158 to multiple lanes from U.S. 421/Business I-40 in Winston-Salem to U.S. 220 in Guilford County. The project is divided into three sections, and it is Section C, a 6.5-mile segment, that would most directly impact Stokesdale. The segment would begin north of Anthony Road and end at U.S. 220. Section C would be a bypass around Stokesdale, since the NCDOT cannot widen U.S. 158 in that area without having a considerable effect on the town’s central business district. After holding informational workshops and receiving public input, NCDOT presented four alternatives to the bypass route
through Stokesdale. At the June 12 meeting of the Stokesdale Town Council, Steve Bowie, chairman of the town’s U.S. 158 Bypass Committee, recommended the town write NCDOT representatives and Greensboro Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Advisory Committee members to request that the U.S. 158 Bypass project be dropped lower on DOT’s project priority list, with the hope that re-prioritizing the project would kill it entirely. The council voted to accept the committee’s recommendation, and the letter was mailed the following week. Eason said that the project moving forward, at least in the near future, is unlikely. “We are doing the reprioritization process this year and the projects were evaluated or rated on their existing data, congestion, costs, safety, all of those things,” said Eason. “We will know how this project will shake out by the end of this year, but it doesn’t appear that it’s going to score very well, so that means that it would not be funded within the next five years. But we won’t know that for sure until we get closer to the end of this year.”
N.C. 68 AND N.C. 150 INTERSECTION The intersection of N.C. 68 and N.C. 150 in Oak Ridge may be getting some upgrades. Oakley said that potentially, in about a year or two, crosswalks will be added and the current “slip lanes” will be converted to turn lanes. The slip lanes are the right-turn lanes on N.C. 150 that currently allow vehicles to turn at the intersection without actually entering it. This project is contingent on funding, but the Greensboro Metropolitan Planning Organization has put the intersection improvements high on its recommended list at a cost of $908,213. Oakley said he believes the improvement will not only better control traffic, but will also make the intersection safer for drivers and pedestrians.
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Coupon expires October 31, 2014
continued from page 12
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“I’ve been fortunate,” says Terry. “My grandparents were Depression kids. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole has They had to make things for themselves, one of Terry’s Marine Corps birdhouses. and I learned if I wanted something I At a fundraiser in New Jersey two had to make it for myself.” years ago, three of Terry’s birdhouses It’s that kind of mindset that led garnered close to $3,000 for the charity. Terry to create some of his most unique pieces of artwork. For inAlong with being well-built, these birdstance, there’s what he refers to as houses stand out because of the memo“poor man’s stained glass.” Wendy ries and positive emotions they evoke. says that Terry wanted to work in Terry is able to take products and items stained glass, but felt the supthat people have become plies were too expensive, so he attached to and turn came up with a way to create them into a conversathe same effect using coltion-starting work ored laundry detergent of art. bottles and painted Cigarettes strips of thin wood. and soft Along with his drinks are much birdhouses and the props sought after birdhe uses to create his work, house decorations. Terry’s studio is stacked Terry’s Lucky with his artwork, Strike birdhouse some of which Wendy is among the Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO confesses she rescued most popular, The details in this church birdhouse include from the trash because as is the Coca stained glass, a brick foundation and a her husband wasn’t Cola house. tiny cross on the steeple. happy with the results. His birdhouse themes incorporate nearly every brand of soft drink there is, including the beloved Brownie chocolate drink that’s no longer in production. He’s showcased Krispy Kreme, Charlie’s Soap, Harley Davidson and John Deere as well. College sports teams are also a popular motif. He’s been considering adding high school mascots and has even custom created a birdhouse that showcases the Town of Summerfield and North Carolina logos.
?
Terry and Wendy laugh about one of his most unusual birdhouses, which featured Black Kow composted cow manure.
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“He runs the new ideas by me each year and I said he’d never sell that one,” says Wendy. “It sold within two hours of being put on display at one of the shows.” Terry’s interest in art began when he was about five years old. He says he can remember the first box of crayons he ever got, which were given to him by his grandmother. He’s never taken an art class and is completely self-taught.
“You don’t know how many pieces of art I’ve saved,” she says. Some of those saved pieces, along with his other work, have been entered in shows at the Dixie Classic Fair, Central Carolina Fair and the Rockingham County Fine Arts Festival. The 76 ribbons that run along the ceiling of his studio attest to his work’s worth. Wendy shows off one of Terry’s rescued still lifes that she entered in one of the contests. Not only did it win the top prize, but someone purchased it on the spot. Over the years, Terry’s work has gone from what Wendy refers to as a “Grandma Moses primitive style” to a more detailed and polished style. He still enjoys painting and sketching, but these days the demand for his birdhouses keeps him busy. Terry’s birdhouses sell for $35 each. He has a number of birdhouses in stock, but is always willing to take custom orders.
Want one? Contact Terry King at (336) 347-7089 or email whitegoatart@yahoo.com
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The Old Mill’s country store offers stone ground products, as well as crafts, jams, honey and cookbooks.
continued from page 5 to replace a long overhead wooden flume, which had carried water from the dam to the mill, with a steel pipe running under the road. During Prohibition and possibly later, Klug says the mill had another side business. “There used to be a still here,” she says. “All mills had stills, especially during Prohibition, because to make white lightning you need corn meal, water and sugar.” Some current customers remember coming to the mill during that time. “I have customers who said they used to come with their granddads, who’d tell them, ‘Now, you sit right here, and I’ll be back,’” says Klug. “It wasn’t until years later they realized what their granddads were doing.” In 1954, the mill was purchased by Clarence E. Bailes, who replaced the turbine with a water wheel. Bailes also added a small sales office, replaced the pipe under the road and built a feed mill next to the existing mill. A new era began when the mill was purchased in 1977 by Charlie Parnell. While Charlie was the miller, his new wife Heidi turned the mill into the consumer operation it is today. “Heidi introduced lots of products
when she and Charlie married,” says Klug. “Originally this mill was a service to the farmers, and she really brought it to more of a consumer-oriented mill.” Prior to the Parnells taking over the mill, farmers would come to get their grains ground; while waiting, they would socialize on the inviting front porch. “I have customers in their 80s and 90s who came in as boys on horsedrawn carts with their grandfathers to have their grains ground,” says Klug. “So it’s got quite a history. People came when they were little and have been coming their whole lives.” After closing the mill for two years for renovations, the Parnells resumed its operation. Along with volunteers from the community, the couple created a nationally recognized brand and a local landmark. Parnell had owned the mill for 30 years before, at the age of 88, he undertook the repair of the disintegrating water wheel. Sadly, while the buckets for the wheel were on order, Charlie passed away. Heidi died several months later. The wheel was eventually repaired by a team of volunteers, but the pipe had been dry so long that the small pegs Parnell had put into it over the years dried up and fell in. Klug plans on inserting a plastic pipe inside the existing metal one, but she isn’t sure when that will happen.
“We hope to run directly off the water wheel and off of a generator that the waterwheel powers,” she says. In the meantime, the mill will continue to run solely by electricity. After the death of the Parnells, the mill fell into the hands of Heidi Parnell’s brothers, Hans and Alfred Brandt. Both in their 70s, they knew they did not want to run the 240-year-old mill. However, they did want to make sure the new owners would care for the mill as lovingly as the Parnells had. The timing was perfect for Klug. After spending several years as a stay-athome mom, she had been considering going back to work when her youngest son started kindergarten. A regular customer, Klug read in the paper that the mill was for sale, and her first thought was, “That would be fun!” “It was an absolute leap of faith, because I knew nothing about grinding,” Klug admits. Before making a final decision, she worked at the mill to make sure it was a good fit for her and the other workers.
With her husband working another job full time, Klug has shouldered most of the responsibility for the mill. She credits her success to the excellent processes the Parnells left behind as well as the continued presence of Annie Laura Perdue, the miller who learned the skill from Charlie Parnell himself. Perdue has been with the mill for 40 years, first as a customer, then a volunteer, then full-time miller. “She’s taught me how to grind, but I’m still an apprentice,” says Klug. “The grinding is a real art. When you’re grinding, if the stones are too close, you can ignite them and the whole mill could burn down,” Klug explains. “Too far apart, and you won’t get the product you want. It would be too coarse. So it’s a real art, and it takes time to learn.” Grinding isn’t the only skill Klug has had to acquire. “There was a lot to learn because we’re a retail store with wholesale; we’re manufacturing, and then we’ve got the books and taxes on top of that,” she says.
“We pretty much took the system and just moved it forward. No reason to reinvent the wheel,” Klug says. “We just followed the way Charlie and Heidi did everything.” The only nod to the modern age is the introduction of computers and the ability to accept credit cards. This was necessary because the Old Mill’s products are now shipped nationwide, including to well-known chefs such as Bobby Flay in New York and the Lee brothers in Charleston, who Klug says are great supporters of the mill. Otherwise, the Klugs prefer to keep the mill an old-fashioned, family-oriented business. “This is a family. That’s what we call it, the ‘mill family,’” Klug says warmly. Part of that family is the army of volunteers, some of whom have been volunteering at the mill since the Parnells owned it. The mill’s warmth and inviting atmosphere is immediately apparent to visitors as they enter from the covered front porch, where Toby, the 16-year-old mill cat, has his sleeping spot.
“He came with the mill,” Klug grins. Visitors get to see the mill in action as they walk among barrels of grain before entering the country store. Stepping into the store feels like going back in time. Shelves are filled with hand-tied paper bags of grits, cornmeal, flour, pancake mixes, muffin mixes and much more. Local vendors also sell homemade jams, crafts and cookbooks. Customers can leave their mark by signing the doorframe before heading out. Hundreds of signatures going back decades surround the door. It’s a folksy touch that adds to the special feeling the mill creates in people. “Everyone comments, and I agree with them, that it’s a very peaceful, happy feeling here,” Klug says with a smile.
Want to go?
The Old Mill of Guilford is located on N.C. 68, across from Stafford Mill Road. It is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.oldmillofguilford.com.
Buyers & sellers take notice! I’ve joined forces with Smith Marketing to offer my clients the highest level of service and experience in the area.
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Let us introduce you to these As real estate is a big part of my life – from my family (builders, carpenters, plumbers, Realtors, engineers & developers) to my husband, Jay of Triad Home Inspectors – I have a vast knowledge of the industry. I know just how stressful buying and selling can be, so I strive to make it as effortless for my clients as possible. My goal is to exceed their expectations, to communicate and to keep their best interests at heart. I am dedicated and passionate about providing service and knowledge to my customers!
You could say I acquired my passion for real estate early. My mother, Johnnye Greer Hunter, was a successful Realtor in Greensboro. A recipient of numerous awards and a top producing agent, I make sure my clients have a rewarding and most profitable experience. I have deep roots in the northwest area – my family, Jacob & Claudia Letterman, and I are active and committed to our community and schools. Please call me for your real estate needs.
Bobbie Gardner
Johnnye Letterman, Realtor
www.allentate.com/bobbiegardner
www.johnnyeletterman.com
Honesty ... Integrity ... Hard work ... these are just a few words to describe the cornerstones of business for Ridgewood Realty. Founded in 2009, several seasoned Realtors came together believing that a real estate transaction should be a positive & personal experience. Our goal is to do everything possible to meet the needs of our clients. Whether buying and/or selling a home, our experienced agents will walk with you every step of the way. Give us a call today!
THE BOBBIE MAYNARD TEAM – Experienced Team of Realtor/Brokers with agents who focus on and live in NW Guilford County. We spend quality time and are dedicated to making your real estate dreams come true. We specialize in working with relocation companies to market your home for sale. Whether you are buying your first home, moving up or downsizing, we have an agent to fulfill your needs. We will put our years of experience to work for you!
Gail Kerber
Bobbie Maynard, Broker/Realtor
CRS, GRI, EcoBroker, Relocation Specialist (336) 382-5939
, CDPE, ABR Realtor®/Broker/Owner (336) 327-1165 cell
®
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CRS, GRI, CSP, Green • (336) 215-8017
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If you are looking for a real estate agent, simply ask yourself: ‘Do I want someone who... 1) is a “full-time” real estate broker; 2) will work hard for me and put my interests first; 3) is thorough and will walk me through the entire process step by step; 4) is on time, honest and accountable; and 5) will provide me with professional, positive and satisfying results?’ If so, then feel free to contact me whether you are buying or selling. Then sit back and relax!
A native of the Triad and a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, I now live in Oak Ridge with my husband, Scott, and our three children. Licensed since 1996, I enjoy working with buyers and sellers throughout the Triad. Relentless, driven, and competent – with me you are not just a number. Whether you are buying, selling or relocating, put my experience to work for you.
Gil Vaughan Buyer & Seller Representation
Chandra Tippett REALTOR /Broker
REALTOR®/Broker, ABR, CGP, CSP, e-Pro, SFR, SRES
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local Realtors Keeping everyone in the loop – that’s the difference between a successful real estate transaction and a stressful one. That’s why I work extra hard to keep the communication lines open. Having lived in the northwest area my entire life, I know the area and enjoy helping my clients find exactly what they’re looking for. As a Realtor, my goal is to provide the best possible service from start to finish. You can count on me to be with you every step of the way.
Phillip Stone Broker/Realtor (336) 908-6528 cell PhillipStone@Realtor.com
www.anewdawnrealty.com
A real estate junkie, my favorite part is pulling out the Wellies and walking the land. A hard-working farm girl, in real estate since forever, with an Alphabet Soup of letters after my name – it still thrills me! 20-year Summerfield resident, community activist and animal lover. Professional, proficient in new construction, relocation, luxury homes, strategic pricing and selling/buying farms and land. Consistent achiever and problem solver ... Real Commitment & Real Results.
Nancy Hess
Call , for buying and selling State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser REALTOR®/Broker • (336) 215-1820 nancy.hess@bhhsyostandlittle.com
As your experienced real estate broker, it is my duty to predict possible problems and solve them before they create stress. I’ve been in the business many years, but I need and appreciate the questions or suggestions my clients may have, as I feel communication is imperative to a successful business relationship. My career is such a rewarding, positive experience, and I feel lucky to be able to work with clients who rely on me. Whether buying or selling, it would be my pleasure to assist you.
Kathy McClelland (336) 314-5637 cell • (336) 517-3050 office housekat2@earthlink.net
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Attention, Realtors Throughout the year, we offer many opportunities to promote yourself and your listings:
Published each January, this comprehensive guide for northwest Guilford County residents includes a directory of local businesses and services. Don’t miss your chance to be there when our readers search the FINDER for real estate services.
Introduce yourself to potential clients in our Realtor spotlight pages. At Home is published twice a year and covers everything from real estate trends to tackling home projects and a slice of life in northwest Guilford County.
Appearing in the real estate section of our classifieds, Real Estate Showcase ads are a cost-effective and eye-catching way to promote your listings throughout the year.
Contact us to learn more about these advertising options (336) 644-7035, ext. 10 • advertising@pscommunications-inc.com
Here to stay and growing every day New name, new address, same location! Thanks for your continued support during the contruction of the roadways
Moving into the great outdoors Outdoor living spaces provide beautiful, functional complements to indoor living spaces by ANNETTE JOYCE There was a time when outdoor living meant a charcoal grill and a picnic table on a concrete patio. Not anymore. Homeowners today are putting as much thought into designing their home’s outdoor areas as they are putting into creating the interior.
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We're seeing roomy screened porches, patios with stamped concrete, expansive outdoor kitchens, elaborate stone fireplaces and fire pits. Water features such as fountains, cascading streams, waterfalls and Koi ponds add soothing sounds of nature, while additional plants and stones accentuate the space.
The living is good There are a number of reasons for this trend, beginning with our climate.
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Photo courtesy of Edgefield Plant & Stone Center
A dry river bed adds interesting texture to this patio.
Marshall Stone's location in Colfax. Tom Malone, owner of TM Construction Services in Oak Ridge, has been in the construction business for more than 20 years. He remembers when outdoor areas were much less affordable for the average homeowner than they are now. While outdoor living spaces make a home more attractive, Malone discovered their real beauty when he installed a fire pit at his own home. "Our fire pit provides us with family time," says Malone. "Our kids will come out, sit with us by the fire and talk when they might not come to the den to watch TV. Outdoor living brings families together and allows them to spend more quality time. That's why we put in the fire pit." Malone recently installed a fire pit with swings and stamped concrete at Oak Ridge resident Jennifer Pratt's home in River Oaks. The outdoor entertainment area replaced an outgrown,
eyesore of a playground area. The Pratts wanted to make the area more attractive, yet functional. Like Malone, Pratt has found the newly revamped outdoor space to be the perfect gathering place for her teenagers and their friends. "After the football games, it's a great place for all the kids to get together," she says. "I like being the house where all the kids hang out." "An outdoor living area gives you another venue in your home," confirms Malone. "It’s so different than what you experience inside your home, and it offers a relaxing atmosphere." Cindy Jones, who owns Edgefield Plant & Stone Center, formerly Oak Ridge Shrubbery, agrees with Malone. "People are creating 'destinations' in their gardens – little spaces to unwind, places where they can go sit, have a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine in the evening," says Jones. At Stokesdale's HHH Hearth, Home & Patio, owner Don Hill sees the same
thing happening. Hill, who sells, installs and services gas grills, fireplaces and fire pits, created his outdoor living area long ago and has found it to be a great place to nourish relationships. Hill says it's not uncommon to arrive home to find three or four neighbors sitting in the swings around his fire pit enjoying the outdoors and the company. "It's the kind of place that people can just come as they are, sit down and relax. That's the way I like it," Hill said
Plants take patience Jones says one of the biggest mistakes people make in creating outdoor living spaces with plants is to focus on immediate gratification. “People want something that looks great as soon as it is planted, but they don’t think about the fact that in five years it’s going to look like a jungle and they’ll be pulling out plants,” says Jones. “A really good garden design is more difficult than people think. We try to get people to look at planting trees
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and shrubs so that they will grow and enhance the property over time.”
Creating outdoor living spaces Outdoor living spaces can be as simple or as elaborate as you'd like. "It's just about what you are looking to accomplish and your individual budget," says Hayes.
What will your budget allow you to do? Jones emphasizes the importance of thinking about your personal style and the style of your home. "When we're doing a project, we really try to reflect the home and the taste of the people who live there," she says. For instance, in creating a unique garden to bring out the best in a 1920’s home, Jones has looked for interesting period architectureal pieces, such as garden gates and vintage ware.
The outdoor living professionals we spoke with agree that having a plan helps you create an atmosphere and function you will enjoy for years. In creating your plan, look online, in home magazines and at various garden and landscape retailers for ideas. Ask outdoor living area professionals what outdoor projects they’ve done, and check out the outdoor areas of family, friends and neighbors.
Once you have an idea of what you want to do, talk to the professionals. Many landscapers, garden shops and contractors will work with you on a design. In most cases, you can opt to pay for the design time and put in the sweat equity, or they can do the work for you. Either way, involving a professional is often less expensive and will provide you with more satisfying results.
Consider your property and your budget. Does your property slope, for example? Is there lots of shade? Is there one spot in particular where nothing grows?
As with any home project, a little research, planning and patience will help ensure your new outdoor living space is enjoyed by the whole family for years to come.
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Train depot sparked growth of ‘Green Pond’ Railroad once ran through oldest town in the northwest area STOKESDALE – Though modern-day Stokesdale has only been incorporated for the last 25 years, its history encompasses about 150 years. The town was originally established as Green Pond in the 1860s because of a swampy pond located in the general area of what is now Ellisboro Road and N.C. 65. Back then, the town consisted of a single general store across from the intersection of Ellisboro Road and Gideon Grove Church Road. As was customary at that time, the post office was located in the store, which was most often the com-
munity’s gathering and meeting place. Green Pond was eventually shortened to Pond. A carrier riding a mule would bring mail to the Pond Post Office twice a week from Kernersville. The “Greensboro Patriot” was the only newspaper delivered through the post office at that time. In 1886, the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railroad was built from Greensboro to Mount Airy. Since it passed through Pond, a railroad station was built to service the area, and the post office was moved at this time. The following year, Pond’s name was changed to Stokesdale. The town has,
We’re family owned and locally operated since 2002
Stokesdale
(336) 644-7201 Residential Commercial | Industrial Generator Installation Chris and Kim Hicks and their children
File pho to
| The firs t train dep located ne ot in what ar where was then the fire sta replaced b called Gre tion now y another. en Pond w sits. It bur That depo as ned in 190 t was sold 1977, with 8 and was and move the owner d to Madiso convertin n in g it into a house.
in various accounts, been said to have been named after a railroad executive, a train conductor or the man who surveyed the area. The first train depot, located near where the fire station now sits, burned in 1908 and was replaced by another. The second depot was sold and moved to Madison in 1977, with the owner converting it into a house. Trains continued to come through Stokesdale until 1980; tracks, which ran east to west through town parallel with Highway 158, were removed in 1981. The railroad influenced the town greatly, and a small business district sprung up around the depot. Several of the buildings that still line the town’s main street were built around 1900, during the railroad’s heyday. Stokesdale was first incorporated in 1907, but went bankrupt during the Depression and became inactive in the 1930s. The state revoked the town’s charter in 1971, but Stokesdale reincorporated in 1989. The town seal shows a map of
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Stokesdale and includes major roads and the railroad. The importance of agriculture to the town, especially tobacco, is shown by the illustration of a farmer with a horse-drawn plow, and a pick and shovel depict the quarry where rock has been mined for many years. An alcohol-producing still represents another piece of history, when, according to the town’s website, “creeks of the northwest corner of the town provided the water to make moonshine as a way to supplement farm income.” Stokesdale has come a long way from having one general store with a post office. Today, the town boasts numerous businesses in its downtown district and along the major highways running through and near the town, including accounting firms, craft stores, two grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores, two pharmacies, several restaurants, medical and dental practices, two banks, veterinarians, a funeral home, a hardware store, auto supply and repair shops, a tire store and even a winery.
continued from page 8 discovered that the couple still owed nearly $30,000 on their current house – the one they had paid off eight years before. Although this is a fictional couple, the situation isn’t. Most people think when they pay off the loan, that’s it. But to make sure you’re free and clear, there must be a recorded Certificate of Satisfaction from the lender stating that the loan has been paid in full. “Once a home is purchased or refinanced, the settlement agent (attorney) will wire a payoff to the existing lien holders (judgments, mortgages or other liens) and request a Certificate of Satisfaction,” says Ingle. “The lien holders will then file a Certificate of Satisfaction with the Register of Deeds in the county where the lien was recorded. A good real estate attorney will follow up on a payoff and check to make sure that a Satisfaction was recorded.” This doesn’t always happen, however, and people don’t usually discover the mistake until they’re trying to sell their home.
“The next time a title search is performed, it will show more than one existing mortgage on the property and can cause a delay in the closing process,” says Ingle. Finding out whether your Certificate of Satisfaction has been recorded is relatively easy. The Register of Deeds office in the county where the property is located will have it on file. You can either look online or visit the registrar’s office. Both are free. Should you discover that your mortgage payoff wasn’t recorded, take care of it right away. First, contact the closing attorney to find out why the payoff wasn’t recorded and ask that attorney to handle it. You may also have to reach out to the lender. If it’s been several years, it might take awhile to track down the various parties involved. The bottom line on avoiding this issue – always make sure when you pay off a mortgage that you receive the Certificate of Satisfaction and that it’s recorded with the registrar’s office in the county where the property is located.
Outdoor living at its best
What you don’t know could cost you It’s tempting to try to get the least expensive homeowner’s insurance coverage possible. However, if you’ve ever had a home disaster, you quickly find out how valuable that insurance is. While you might consider it to be a necessary evil, you should take the time to determine what you’re comfortable with financially absorbing in damage repair should disaster strike. Susanna Nunn, an agent with State Farm Insurance in Kernersville, has been in the insurance business for 21 years. “A common misconception is that we are insuring the market or resale value of the home but really, we are insuring the cost to rebuild the house exactly as it was on the day of the loss,” says Nunn. “These two values can be drastically different in economic turns.” Nunn says people often get confused about exactly what is covered and what requires additional coverage. Her best advice is to know your policy and ask questions before a need arises. For instance, a regular homeowner’s policy does not cover flood damage. “A flood is defined as surface water that rises and overflows into your home. It is not water that is driven by rain or wind due to openings in your home,” Nunn explains. “If you live in a flood plain as defined by the NFIP, flood insurance is required by lenders as part of your mortgage conditions.”
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Laurie Acree
Another issue to consider is what’s covered with your plumbing system. “Overflow of water from your plumbing system that arises out of a blockage on your premises is usually covered under most homeowner policies,” says Nunn. “However, if it originates from a problem in the line down the street, it usually is not covered. The extra endorsement called ‘backup of sewers and drains’ helps cover these type of events.” In most cases, if it involves a septic tank overflow, insurance will take care of the cleanup; however, you’ll want to confirm this because individual policies vary. Homes with off-site septic systems or homes that have a basement and a sump pump should pay special attention to coverage. Insuring vacant homes is another potential pitfall. In today’s real estate market, a seller must often relocate before they sell their home, leaving it unoccupied. If there’s a mortgage, the lender requires that home insurance be kept on the property. “Vacant homes (where there are no furnishings) usually have to be insured through excess market at a much higher cost,” says Nunn. “We usually recommend someone who is relocating to find a friend or relative willing to stay in the home for a few months while it is being sold, or that they find a tenant and turn it into a rental dwelling policy.” Buying a home is a huge investment. The more you know about that purchase and how to protect it, the less likely you’ll find yourself dealing with the kind of problems that make you an example of what not to do.
New construction design selections specialist Residential interior design consultation & furnishings Visual merchandising / Showroom designer Stokesdale • (336) 471-4293 • LMAcree@gmail.com
www.LaurieAcreeDesigns.com
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continued from page 7 with four classrooms, a library and a principal’s office. While the school was small, it must have seemed luxurious compared to the previous tiny frame building. Then disaster struck. On a January night in 1942, the new building was destroyed by an electrical fire. But the fire did not dampen the resolve of the students and teachers. The school was rebuilt quickly with insurance money, plus an additional $20,000 that the school board provided to add more classrooms. The rebuilt section now contains model classrooms used for teacher training.
The civil rights era: Laughlin School The name was changed to Laughlin School in the 1950s to honor Duella M. Laughlin, one of the original five teachers and the principal from 1936 to 1950. A portrait of Laughlin still hangs in the development center’s entrance hallway, a tribute to the educator who lived to be 103. The school continued to construct ad-
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Clark credits at least some of his personal and professional successes to his time at Laughlin. “If I had gone to some other school, I don’t know that I would have turned out the way I did,” he said. “As they say, what you do, who you know and where you are dictates who you become.” Clark was drafted into the military almost immediately after graduation and served in the Navy for four years, after which he attended Guilford College. | New teachers are trained in the latest technology at the Laughlin Professional Development Center.
Photo by Kristin Kubly
ditions through the 1950s, including more classroom buildings, a cafeteria, indoor toilets and a multipurpose room. These are the rooms now used for professional development training and offices. Gary L. Clark, a Summerfield native who now lives in Florida, went to Laughlin School from first to 12th grade and was in the last graduating class of 28 students in 1965. “Growing up in Summerfield and going to Laughlin, it was a very simple time,” Clark said. “We were one of the few black families who lived there. Everybody knew us. They used to call us the ‘crazy Clark boys,’” he said with a chuckle, remembering the scrapes he and his brothers would get into. Attending a segregated school had its challenges, Clark admitted. “Being a colored school, we didn’t have any current materials,” he said. “Most of the books we got were handme-downs from the white schools.” An avid reader, Clark excelled academically. Yet when a counselor gave him an occupational test, though his score was high, her advice was disappointing. “What do you think she told me I ought to go into as a profession?” Clark asked. “Cook. ‘You would make a good cook,’ she said.” Disheartened, Clark dropped out of school his senior year. But one teacher could not bear to see his talent go to waste. “I was out about two or three
Fall 2014
months, and she literally talked me into coming back,” Clark said. He took his final exams and was allowed to graduate with his class. Looking back, Clark said that type of caring was the main advantage of attending a small school. “You grew up in an environment where everyone looked after each other,” he said. “You were in a school where the teachers were concerned about you.” Clark, who marched in some demonstrations during the famous Greensboro sit-ins, attended Laughlin at a crucial period in Guilford County Schools’ history. During the turbulent 1960s, schools in Guilford County began the process of integration. In 1965, high school students from Laughlin began attending Northwest Guilford High School, which had been built three years earlier. A few years later in 1968, Laughlin’s middle grade students began attending Northwest Guilford Middle School, and Laughlin became an elementary school only. Clark’s three younger brothers were among the earliest African-American students to go to Northwest. Clark said because his brothers had to change schools, they felt the impact of integration more than he did. “Of course, they had to put up with taunting and a lot of other different stuff,” he recalled. “From my perspective, I was impacted very little by it.”
Today, Clark is retired after a successful career as an investor and financial advisor. He has even written a book, “The Simplification of Becoming a Millionaire,” a business primer that offers “easy ways to make big money.”
Integration brings in a new era After Guilford County fully integrated all of its schools in 1970, Laughlin School students in grades 3-5 were sent to Summerfield Elementary School, while Laughlin became an integrated K-2 school. In 1987, second grade students began attending Summerfield Elementary. Laughlin served kindergarten and first grade students only until closing in 2011. Laughlin did not stay vacant for long, however, and became Laughlin Professional Development Center in 2012 when the Departments of Induction and Success and Professional Development moved into the former school building. Zenns said she and the rest of the staff thoroughly enjoy working in a building with such a rich history. “We love it here,” she said. “When you think about all that has gone on through the years, it is so amazing and exciting. You just feel it.”
Thank you
to Linda Zenns for most of the historical information for this article. To read her historical account of Laughlin School, visit www.gcsnc.com/ pages/gcsnc/District. On the right-hand side, click “History of Education in GCS” and click “History of Laughlin School.”
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