Comments on: A Princely Urban Edifice http://goodnightraleigh.com/2008/09/a-princely-urban-edifice/ a look at the art, architecture, history, and people of the city at night Mon, 21 May 2012 18:10:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bro. O.R Pate http://goodnightraleigh.com/2008/09/a-princely-urban-edifice/comment-page-1/#comment-9076 Bro. O.R Pate Sat, 28 Apr 2012 13:18:11 +0000 http://goodnightraleigh.com/?p=661#comment-9076 Yes we are still active in our Lodge and Community. I would love to thank the person responsible for the photos it looks great. Yes we are still active in our Lodge and Community. I would love to thank the person responsible for the photos it looks great.

]]> By: Raleigh Boy http://goodnightraleigh.com/2008/09/a-princely-urban-edifice/comment-page-1/#comment-3139 Raleigh Boy Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:17:13 +0000 http://goodnightraleigh.com/?p=661#comment-3139 Bro Smith - Thanks for sharing your memories of the Prince Hall Lodge. It's stories like these that make an old building come alive. Bro Smith – Thanks for sharing your memories of the Prince Hall Lodge. It’s stories like these that make an old building come alive.

]]> By: Bro. Brian C. Smith http://goodnightraleigh.com/2008/09/a-princely-urban-edifice/comment-page-1/#comment-3116 Bro. Brian C. Smith Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:40:33 +0000 http://goodnightraleigh.com/?p=661#comment-3116 For many years I had wondered why my grandfather and uncles would go into that building wearing black suits. It wasn't till I came out of darkness to understand. I'm very proud of my heritage and the legacy bestowed upon me from those great men who entered that historical monument of culture, truth, and dignty. I am the grandson of P.M. Archie C. Smith Sr. and the nephew of Alexander W. Smith and the godson of William A. Rainbow. They are the stones that laid my path. For many years I had wondered why my grandfather and uncles would go into that building wearing black suits. It wasn’t till I came out of darkness to understand. I’m very proud of my heritage and the legacy bestowed upon me from those great men who entered that historical monument of culture, truth, and dignty.
I am the grandson of P.M. Archie C. Smith Sr. and the nephew of Alexander W. Smith and the godson of William A. Rainbow. They are the stones that laid my path.

]]> By: Raleigh Boy http://goodnightraleigh.com/2008/09/a-princely-urban-edifice/comment-page-1/#comment-846 Raleigh Boy Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:19:15 +0000 http://goodnightraleigh.com/?p=661#comment-846 John and AWS: thanks for the comments! I love that moon shot too. The Widow's Son Lodge of the Prince Hall Masons, founded in Raleigh in 1867, still owns the building. They are apparently still active as well: http://www.widowson4.com/ The Web site lists the building as their lodge hall, so presumably they still meet there. As for the windows>> that is a mystery to me! Seems I recall they were boarded up at the time of the facade renovation in the early '90s. The full name on the storefront window is "Jerusalem Pentacostal Church with a Vision, Inc." It's extremely difficult to read, but luckily I wrote the name on the back of the photo in 1971. This section of Raleigh used to have dozens of storefront churches. I was fascinated by that concept back then for some reason! Nowadays, I can think of only a handful downtown. John and AWS: thanks for the comments! I love that moon shot too.

The Widow’s Son Lodge of the Prince Hall Masons, founded in Raleigh in 1867, still owns the building. They are apparently still active as well: http://www.widowson4.com/ The Web site lists the building as their lodge hall, so presumably they still meet there. As for the windows>> that is a mystery to me! Seems I recall they were boarded up at the time of the facade renovation in the early ’90s.

The full name on the storefront window is “Jerusalem Pentacostal Church with a Vision, Inc.” It’s extremely difficult to read, but luckily I wrote the name on the back of the photo in 1971. This section of Raleigh used to have dozens of storefront churches. I was fascinated by that concept back then for some reason! Nowadays, I can think of only a handful downtown.

]]> By: AWS http://goodnightraleigh.com/2008/09/a-princely-urban-edifice/comment-page-1/#comment-813 AWS Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:44:31 +0000 http://goodnightraleigh.com/?p=661#comment-813 LOVE the moon in the background of the 4th shot! I've driven past this building lots of times but never looked at it closely enough....thanks for the article, next time I will! LOVE the moon in the background of the 4th shot! I’ve driven past this building lots of times but never looked at it closely enough….thanks for the article, next time I will!

]]> By: John http://goodnightraleigh.com/2008/09/a-princely-urban-edifice/comment-page-1/#comment-800 John Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:02:17 +0000 http://goodnightraleigh.com/?p=661#comment-800 Great article. Do you know when/why the windows were boarded up? What is this building used for today? Are there still active masons among the African-American community? Also - what was the storefront on the ground floor that says "Jerusalem" in the window in your pic from the 70s? Great article.

Do you know when/why the windows were boarded up? What is this building used for today? Are there still active masons among the African-American community?

Also – what was the storefront on the ground floor that says “Jerusalem” in the window in your pic from the 70s?

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