Downtown | Madison Taylor

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The downtown menace?

February 20th, 2013, 8:26 pm by madisontaylor

A note came to the Times-News via our Facebook page on Wednesday. It was from Mel Baerry. It was about downtown problem that won’t seem to go away. It’s most likely the clearest sign that helping those with mental health difficulities remains the largest unaddressed malady in society today.

Here’s what Baerry wrote.

“I wish you would write an article on the homeless guy “Reggie” that is wandering downtown Burlington at night. He jumped out in front of my car the other night and I almost hit him. I could not pull into the parking lot I wanted to because I was afraid he would hurt myself and my daughter. The Paramount Theater has lots of children that have to come outside at night escorted for the theatrical productions. This gentleman accosted some elderly patrons of the theater during the run of Nunsense and has stripped naked in the street. He isn’t amusing or harmless. He is a threat to the safety of himself and other people. Where is his family? What is his story? Why is he free to roam the streets accosting people late at night? How do we as citizens of HIS city help him? hmmm?

Some might recall a few months ago that I wrote a column about a skinny man who roamed the Times-News parking lot occasionally, would become belligerent when people would not give him money and once pounded on the hood of my car as I drove past him on Worth Street. I was told that this person also accosts people outside Front Street businesses at night and was a particular problem last summer after nighttime performances “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Depot amphitheater.

Apparently, the situation hasn’t improved. A few days ago our lifestyles editor Charity Apple said she was warned by Walter Boyd about this person as she left a rehearsal for “The Music Man” at the Church of the Holy Comforter downtown. Walter offered to escort Charity to her car.

Mr. Baerry’s post drew similar comments from others who have encountered this man downtown.

Outside of a cop walking a beat downtown there’s not much police can do every single minute. They can chase the guy off, but after that, then what?

Most who have encountered “Reggie” seem to believe he has mental health issues. Molly McGowan, one of our reporters, said she was greeted by a “sweet” Reggie. For me, that was a first. I haven’t run across anyone yet who describes him this way.

But that’s what makes this frustrating.

People who come downtown to work or play should not have to put up with this kind of potential confrontation or danger. On the other hand, if “Reggie” needs help, he should be able to get it.

If anyone knows his family or any other connection feel free to contact me by email at mtaylor@thetimesnews.com. It’ll have to do until our blogs are able to receive comments again.

Posted in: Downtown | Post a Comment »

The recycled coffee shop

February 7th, 2013, 12:39 pm by madisontaylor

I hadn’t noticed the small overhanging sign near the corner of Worth and Davis streets advertising “Ella’s Coffee House” when I stopped for a look in the window. I saw something there I had seen before, but a few weeks back I decided to take a closer look while on my afternoon walk.

It was a poster for the famous Ben Hecht play, “The Front Page.” It’s a newspaper story that’s been made into two movies — one is the classic “The Front Page” starring Cary Grant and Rosland Russell.

“That’s from a play performed in Chapel Hill,” a voice said from behind me, a person I soon learned is Todd Spivey.

Over the past couple of years I’ve seen Todd around this particular storefront a few times. The window was always packed with books or antiques or a combination of both.

“We tried to be a bookstore for a while,” he admitted.

Now, though, it’s apparently a coffee house, and then some — or soon will be.

On a quick walking tour through the two-story building, Todd outlined his vision for a 1950s or ‘60s style coffee house where art, music, theater and literature would be just as important as the caffeine and conversation. And if film director Quentin Tarantino is a master of film mashups (combinations of contrasting styles) then this coffee house is something of a mashup as well.

So far, it’s outfitted with recycled items from other coffee shops, diners or businesses downtown that didn’t make it. Todd has tables, chairs and signs from the former Roasters Café and the Perk-O-Later, among others. One wall is lined with books. The other with music posters or items about plays. Upstairs, he has a mish-mash of antiques, musical instruments and equipment meant to outfit singing performances or the occasional one-act play.

Ella’s Coffee House wasn’t open on that day last month when I happened in to Todd. And it’s not open yet, either. I told Todd at the time we might be interested in his venture as possible story for the Times-News, and he was more than ready to go, just not quite yet. He wants all his ducks in a row.

We’ll see.

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Signs of success

August 4th, 2012, 1:17 pm by madisontaylor

Burlington’s downtown has been in a steady state of transformation for the past couple of years. And that’s a good thing. Fact is, it’s a sight to see how far the area has come just since 2007, when I moved back here after 15 years on the North Carolina coast.

Yes, in those days I could almost envision tumbleweeds bouncing down deserted downtown Burlington streets after 6 p.m. when all the techs and suits at LabCorp called it a day and vacated the area like a communicable disease drill was in progress.

That’s not much of an exaggeration. I remember taking a walk one spring Friday evening at around 7 p.m. and counting about four cars in the entire area of Front Street to Morehead Street. That didn’t include the customers at Zack’s Hotdogs or Boston Sandwich Shop, of course. those places have packed a crowd on Fridays for years and still do.

But outside of those landmarks — where people visit like shrines then quickly leave — downtown was a ghost town as darkness approached.

Not any more. There are new businesses, interesting features and above all else, patrons.

Really.

Visit on a Friday night and dozens of cars are parked along surprisingly busy downtown streets. The Company Shops Co-op and its live music is one of many lures. The Depot is one of the rotating sites for the county Musical Chairs series and every so often, there are competing bands on a Friday night. The amphitheater at the Depot just finished playing host to a couple of weekends of Shakespearean comedy. Coming in September: The second-annual Beer-B-Que, hosted by several Davis Street businesses, including the Rusted Bucket Tavern. In December, the second consecutive Dickens Christmas street festival is being planned. It was perhaps the city’s coolest public event last year. And the Paramount Theater is so busy it wasn’t easy to find dates for our annual candidate forums in October this year.

Why, downtown even has its own street musician. “Steve” plays the guitar here and there on the sidewalk near businesses that don’t mind his company. Pitch some change into his guitar case if you see him.

Yes, folks can go downtown to buy or sell furniture, antiques, flowers, clothing, art or gold. Those with a mind to can get a body piercing, tattoo or have their photograph taken. People can learn everything from dance to karate. To borrow a worn cliché mainly because it applies, there’s pretty much something for everyone.

So by any measure, the downtown reformation is a success.

But with that success comes something that occurs in nearly every other city of any size I’ve ever seen — panhandling. It’s a part of most, if not all, downtown landscapes I know of, at least in thriving ones. Panhandlers, it seems — like reporters, cops and grifters — follow the money. In this case, that means going where people congregate.

And believe me, they’re here.

Usually, it’s not a huge problem. In fact, they’re a necessary part of the landscape in an odd way. In the daytime, the nearby homeless shelter expels them. Before the day center opened in Burlington, they sometimes camped at May Memorial Library. But they often vanished at night, just like the folks who work for LabCorp, or the city.

Again, not anymore.

The other night, one of our interns was accosted in the Times-News parking lot as he was leaving to go home for the night. This persistent vagrant didn’t seem interested in taking no for an answer. He even became a little belligerent about it. Our intern finally got shed of him but left our building a little shaken. Our nighttime staff called the police, who arrived quickly, but not in time to catch the guy. Based on the description I got, it sounds like a panhandler who tapped on the hood of my car and yelled as I was driving down Worth Street on my way home one night about a month ago.

Other members of our nighttime staff have reported similar parking lot problems over the past few weeks. As a result, we have instituted a buddy system for people leaving after dark.

Panhandlers aren’t just showing up in our parking lot. And most, like I said, are no problem at all. Some ask for a cigarette and it almost makes me sad that I don’t smoke anymore when I say no.

But one seems to be a regular problem throughout downtown. I spoke to someone on Thursday who said the same person has approached people on Front Street when nighttime events are in progress. He wondered if Burlington police should have an officer walking a beat on nights when traffic downtown is highest.

Might not be a bad idea. After all, there’s something there to protect these days.

Posted in: Column collection • Downtown | Post a Comment »

Art imitates life, imitates newspapers

April 9th, 2012, 11:05 am by madisontaylor

I took thsi photo of Ann's display of her work at Art on the Vine last yera in Mebane.

A couple of weeks ago Ann Hobgood contacted me. Ann is an artist who lives in Glencoe Mill Village. I’ve been very fortunate to meet and get to know Ann over the past few years, starting with the annual Christmas tour of homes in Glencoe. She has the most fascinating collection of Christmas items I’ve seen. Much of it she created herself. She recycles materials most toss in the landfill to create sculptures that are quite fascinating in their ingenuity, creativity and whimsy.

I not only admire her work, but collect it when I can. We have two larger pieces in our home and we have a grouping of smaller “statues” based on the old Simon and Garfunkel song “Scarborough Fair and particularly the lyric, “Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.”

They’re unique to say the least.

Ann has an overpowering interest in art and history. She’s also a lover of downtown Burlington. Her work has impacted things there before, most notably the Norfolk and Western train caboose behind the historic depot, something she renovated en route to it becoming the Company Shops Caboose Museum in 2007.

Very cool.

Now she has her eyes on downtown again.

Ann emailed me a couple of weeks ago about the upcoming Willow Walk art exhibit coming up in June downtown. We published a story about art that will be commissioned or rented for the tour. Ann let me know that she planned to make a piece for the show. She wants to produce two life-sized people (made from nail kegs, downspouts, etc.) who would be sitting on a metal park bench.

“I had an idea to make one of them reading the Times News. I thought it would be good for your anniversary this year,” Ann wrote. “I haven’t yet figured out how to make the newspaper part waterproof — but I will.”

I knew she would.

She also asked if I had a preference for a newspaper front for her to use. I didn’t. I told her to find one she likes and have at it.

She wrote me back: “I’m going to watch the front page of the T-N each day and pick one to use (one that doesn’t mention some horrible crime or have pictures of bugs on it.” The latter was in reference to a story recently about bedbugs in which we produced a rather large image of one.

Over the weekend she wrote and told me she selected a copy of the newspaper from last week, Friday April 6. The most prominent item on the page is about Uncle Eli’s Quilting Party — an event held annually in Eli Whitney for eight decades. Jay Ashley wrote the latest story and Sam Roberts provided the photos.

I thought it to be an excellent choice.

Now I’m looking forward to what Ann comes up with.

I’m betting it’ll be very cool, indeed.

Posted in: Downtown • Inside the Times-News | 2 Comments »

Walking on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 16th, 2012, 10:24 am by madisontaylor

I scouted around this morning for a great quote by the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The slain civil rights leader said so many memorable things over the course of his extraordinary life that it’s difficult to fix upon only one.

But one jumped right in my boat this particular morning, mainly because it reminded me of where I am with my own life at the moment. Here it is.

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

I’m good with that. In fact, I’m more than good with it.

Later in the morning I decided to walk up the street from the Times-News office and witness the start of the annual Martin Luther King Day march from Occasions on Front Street to the Mayco Bigelow Recreation Center on Sharpe Road and shoot a few pictures. This morning was warmer than most for the walk — but still pretty chilly at nearly 40 degrees. Warm coats, hats and coffee were in abundance.

There was a mixture of young and old there; men and women. A child or two carried posters. As the group walked down Front Street a woman began to sing “We Shall overcome” and others joined in. It was a moving moment.

The walkers were all African American. I had hoped that wouldn’t be the case. The exceptions were Times-News reporters and photographers. Had I dressed a little more warmly I would’ve joined in.

Next year, I will.

Coats, hats and coffee were the order of the day.

Police and organizers talk about the route beforehand.

Times-News photographer Sam Roberts gets the scoop on the route in the Occasions parking lot on Front Street in downtown Burlington.

The best reason for kids to be out of school today: So they can join in the MLK Day activities.

Posted in: Downtown • Just thinking out loud • Random photos | 2 Comments »

Progress and ruin: Burlington’s two headed coin

September 30th, 2011, 2:18 am by madisontaylor

The downtown area has three landmark structures I absolutely love. One the almost new LabCorp corporate headquarters on Morehead Street. Another is the bulding right beside it, the old May Hosiery building. Perhaps no two buildings signify the yin and yang of Burlington today as its past and future collide. May Hosiery was one of a handful of textile makers downtown years ago. A Kayser Roth factory stood beside it when I was here in the 1980s. Dozens of other factories were spread throughout the county.

Today, most are gone. LabCorp is now the area’s largest employer and its stamp is equally strong downtown.

The splendor of the LabCorp building and its modern helix statue stands in contrast to its next door neighbor May Hosiery, which has been unused for years. The brick outside deteriorates and seemingly a new window is broken nearly every day. The large smoke stack is visible from nearly any point downtown. It’s as visible as the LabCorp statue.

I’ve taken a lot of cell phone photos of the May Hosiery building over the past few weeks. It’s a great example of mid-20th century industrial architecture. The smoke stack is of a kind that’s almost never seen today. A steeple to the church of manufacturing — which made Burlington what it was from the early 1900s until the 1980s.

Posted in: Downtown • Random photos | 2 Comments »

Dogfight at the Beer-B-Que

September 24th, 2011, 2:13 pm by madisontaylor

OK, spent part of the afternoon downtown for the first Beer-B-Que, sponsored by the Rusted Bucket Tavern and some other Davis Street businesses as a fund-raiser for Lupus. Considering the shaky weather, the street festival is doing pretty well. Cool band playing mostly late ’60s songs by CCR with some of The Band mixed in. Great barbecue (this ain’t no road kill Rick Perry!) and a small but hearty gathering of folks (more than 100 but fewer than 200 when I took back off for the office at around 4:30.

It continues into this evening. Check it out if you’re reading this right now.

The highlight so far, of course, is the hot dog eating contest sponsored by Davis Street’s longest-standing business — Zack’s Hot Dogs. It was a spirited competition (hey Zack puts chili on those dogs, which makes it harder!). Here’s the photo essay.

And no, I didn’t enter. Too full from barbecue.

Zack takes charge of things before contestants get started.

Ready, set … EAT!

This kid was a competitor to the end — but managed three dogs in five minutes. And no, the beer isn’t his. It belongs to the adult to his right.

Contestants work up a powerful thirst wolfing down the dogs.

And the winner is … Ricky Bowes, who crushed the competition when he started eating two hot dogs at a time. “I don’t know how the New York guys do it,” he said later. Ricky knocked down eight Zack dogs with chili in five minutes. His secret? “I’ve been eating since I was little,” he explained.

Posted in: Downtown | Post a Comment »

Sign of new times, the end of an era

September 1st, 2011, 11:21 am by madisontaylor

One of my mom’s first jobs after college was at Wachovia in Winston-Salem. Back in the late 1950s and early ’60s, it’s what women who graduated from the School of Journalism at UNC did with that degree — especially those who didn’t want to be shoved into what newspapers of that time called the “Women’s Section.”

My mom wanted no part of any “Women’s Section.” So she got into P.R. with a local bank that was just starting out. It eventually grew into a financial giant, a giant that tumbled hard when the economy turned to crap in the fall of 2007. The Wachovia merger with First Union that left Ken Thompson in charge was blamed for the downfall. First Union got Wachovia’s good name and then ran the company aground.

So now, Wachovia is going away. Wells Fargo saved the bank during the collapse and now it’s putting up its signs. The Wells Fargo logo is going up today at the downtown branch in Burlington. The old Wachovia sign on the ground near Maple Avenue is a sign of the times.

Truly the end of an era.

City editor Brent Lancaster mulls a future of looking at the bright red and yellow Wells Fargo sign.

Posted in: Downtown • Just thinking out loud | Post a Comment »

One for the history books

August 15th, 2011, 9:36 am by madisontaylor

Got a message Sunday from Lash Wrigtenberry of Burlington. “Check out my Baseball Liniment bottle. It’s a part of Burlington’s history.”

What Lash had to share was indeed a new but pretty old find — and a rare one.

“I’ve been looking for one more than 20 years,” he said matter-of-factly.

In relative terms, I’m a Burlington newbie — I lived here from 1984 to 1992 and from 2007 to present. So I wasn’t too surprised that I wasn’t familiar with Baseball Liniment, which was produced in Burlington by the Pearson Remedy Co.

“I think until the 1950s,” said Wrightenberry.

I asked Managing Editor Jay Ashley about it. He wasn’t familiar with the product at all, at least not in relation to Burlington. He figured that “baseball liniment” was a term he’d heard before in relation to a generic salve used to loosen sore arms.

Don Bolden, the Times-News editor emeritus and area historian, did know of it.

“(The)) plant was on Union Avenue. Could see it from Fisher. I thought I might have a bottle, but I have two old bottles of some kind of laxative they made, still in the old cartons. I think Mayor Earl Horner’s family was involved in that place, it was right behind his house which was on Fisher.”

I couldn’t find much information online about Pearson Remedy Co., except that the bottles are rare and potentially valuable. Most of what I could track down was from a website for Raleigh bottle collectors.

Wrightenberry said the operation was run by the Horner family, headed by Mr. Charles Horner, who lived in a large stucco house on Fisher Street, which is off Ruffin Street not far from the downtown area, Mayor Earl Horner lived on Fisher Street, too. The Pearson Remedy Co. was in a two to three story building on Union Avenue behind where the Horners lived.

“Pearson Remedy Co. was behind the mayor’s house. What is called Horner’s Alley connects Union Avenue and Fisher Street,” Wrightenberry said.

“This has brought back a lot of good memories.”

Wrightenberry came across the bottle by accident — pretty much how anyone happens upon long-lost objects, but especially bottles or other items so easily broken. Wrightenberry’s spouse happened to be talking to an elderly lady in Gibsonville and somehow the subject turned to liniment. The elderly lady said that she had just thrown out a bottle that had been in her medicine cabinet for many, many years. When she fetched it from the trash, Wrightenberry’s spouse remarked that her husband might like to own the bottle and took it home.

Quite a rescue, I’d say.

“Those are pretty rare now I would think,” Don said when I told him the whole story.

Makes me wonder if my mom has any bottles of Baseball Liniment taking up space in the back of some cabinet.

Posted in: Downtown • Past imperfect | 3 Comments »

Got a fever of 103 …

July 22nd, 2011, 1:32 pm by madisontaylor

In-between the advertisements for “Elvis at the Paramount” I clicked off this image with my cellphone at the temp and time sign outside Loaves and Fishes on a quick — or make that very slow — walk through downtown Burlington today, which is supposed to be the hottest day of the year so far.

I’m not one bit surprised. Dare I say, “we’re hot blooded, check it and see?”