Comments on: Leaping Tall Buildings in a Single Bound: Raleigh’s Superman Building

By: Donna Ellis Wilkes

Donna Ellis Wilkes — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:16:17 +0000

My late father, Phil Ellis, used to work in the old Durham Life Building. What fond memories my twin sister, Diane, and I had of running down the basement’s sloping floor, yelling our heads off to hear our echos. then we’d go with Mom to see Daddy, and peer in the window of the studio, and try to make him laugh as he did the news (never worked!) We’d “type” on his typewriter, using yellow copy paper, and when we were bored waiting for Daddy, Diane and would run around and around the post that was in WPTF’s lobby, (Dunno why we didn’t drive the receptionist crazy!) We also loved to go into the old teletype machine room next to the news room, watching it spit out the news at astounding speed. We’d finish our visit by going going down to Honaker’s Restaurant on the first floor and eat some of the best hot dogs ever! At Christmas time, we’d watch from the newsroom window to see the Christmas Parade. Daddy was in the car behind Santa Claus, giving play-by-play of the parade and crowd. All our friends thought we actually knew Santa Claus, and would tell us to tell Daddy what they wanted. I guess they figured who needed to write Santa a letter.

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 01:08:48 +0000

My childhood best friend’s dad was a stockbroker whose office was on ~ the 8th floor of the Durham life bldg, facing Fayetteville St. Before I was allowed to attend the Christmas Parade on my own, we used to watch at least part of the parade from his dad’s office, windows wide open for a fantastic view. At that time the parade was on the first Monday night after Thanksgiving. You could also go up to the roof (if you knew someone) and look around – then it was the tallest building in the city. There was a ~ a 4ft wall wrapping around the outside, or maybe it was more like a channel. Can’t rightly remember, as the last time I was there was nearly 40 years ago.

– Michael Coxe, who left Raleigh for Silicon Valley in 1978

By: Raleigh Boy

Raleigh Boy — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:38:55 +0000

RaleighRob– Thanks for your comment, and you are right: The architectural firm for Durham’s SunTrust (CCB) and Winston-Salem’s RJ Reynolds Buildings was the one and the same as for the Empire State Building — Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates of New York. A listing of some of their major projects is here:
http://www.emporis.com/en/cd/cm/&id=100910

By: RaleighRob

RaleighRob — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:44:54 +0000

^Oh and course Asheville City Hall…how could I forget that one.

By: RaleighRob

RaleighRob — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:41:34 +0000

Love that building! Art deco style is definitely one of my favorites.

Fortunately, there are others in NC. Most notably, Durham’s CCB (now SunTrust) tower and Winston-Salem’s RJ Reynolds tower. Both of those, legend goes, were designed by the same firm as the Empire State Building.

Wouldn’t it be great if Art deco came back? :-)