Goodnight Raleigh - a look at the art, architecture, history, and people of the city at night

SuperGirl and the Oral Hygiene Building

Above, a photo from Paul Friedrich’s Vacation with the Super-Heroes. many of the photos of this series are taken across the country and around the world, this photo was taken here in Raleigh. but where? and what is this oral hygiene building?

The first three individuals to get a correct answer for one of the following questions will each win a signed 5″ x 7″ print of this image of SuperGirl posing in front of the historic Oral Hygiene Building by Paul Friedrich.
  1. Identify the location of this building and its current use
  2. take a photo from inside (send to goodnightraleigh@gmail.com)
  3. explain (correctly) what the department of oral hygiene used to do

(if you know all the answers, please only answer one to let others have a chance of victory. it’s the code of the Super-Heroes, something that Paul learned during his travels with them. Only one print per person will be awarded.)

Previous post: The Many S’s of Side Street Restaurant [updated]

Next post: Joie and Cori at Deep South


8 Comments:


Devin
02/20/2009

it’s on martin street! across from design box!

Ashton
02/20/2009

Its on Dawson St [210, as the picture suggests] and it’s a part of the natural sciences museum!

This is a fun game! :)

I’m eager to know the history of it though…

christopher james drummond
02/20/2009

The department of oral hygiene was established in 1931 to expand earlier efforts to combat what the Bureau of Medical Inspection of Schools had found, which was that dental health was the most prevalent health problem among school children. The earlier programs focused on lectures and oral hygiene demonstrations which were introduced in public schools throughout the state, in 1931, the dental care program was established which created the Division of oral hygiene to educate the general public on preventive dental care.

Raleigh Boy
02/20/2009

We have winners!

Ashton wins a supergirl print for correctly identifying the location of the Oral Hygiene Building, and Christopher James Drummond wins a print by explaining–in great detail– the function of the department of Oral Hygiene. Congratulations winners, and thanks for participating in our contest!

We have one remaining print to give away. Who will be the first to take a photo from the inside of the OHB and send it to us for publication??

Raleigh Boy
02/20/2009

On a side note, the OHB was erected on Caswell Square in 1941. I went there on a few occasions with a small group of other kids in 1959-1960, or there-abouts, to see a puppet show about oral hygiene. It featured marionettes– totally beguiling to an 8 year old! They also showed us a giant molar and a giant toothbrush– equally beguiling! I vividly remember walking up the long flight of front steps and reading the words “Oral Hygiene” carved into the stone lintel, and thinking to myself what the heck is oral hygiene??

Devin
02/20/2009

haha i was so just guessing

Raleigh Boy
02/20/2009

Don’t despair, Devin. This contest was just the first of many! Nice try though, and better luck next time. btw– nobody has sent us a photo from the inside yet!

Lee Creighton
02/08/2011

You won’t get any pictures from inside the building. It’s been boarded up for many years.

Leave a Comment


Want a tiny physical reminder of Raleigh? City-Blox are 2"x3" photographic prints mounted directly to wood blocks. You can support this blog by buying them at Etsy.


Discuss Raleigh

  • Recent Comments:

    • Raleigh Boy: Hollywoodgirl — Thanks for sharing your recollections of the Andrew Johnson Hotel with our...
    • Jimmy G: Moved to Raleigh in 1956. worked at Chiips 1966 later Hardee’s, Emma Conn to Morson to Enloe. Lived in...
    • Debbie McGhee Saelens: I went attended Hugh Morson the first part of the 9th grade (1965) before we moved to Aycock....
    • Matthew Brown: Another great article, Raleigh Boy! Thank you
    • Curt: Interesting post, Raleigh Boy. I wonder if the flag in the postcard was artistic license. Here are two Flickr...
    • hollywoodgirl: That’s I always looked for the most photogenic subject. “S” is next to...
    • hollywoodgirl: Summer of 1972 I was a reporter intern at the Raleigh Times. As low girl on the totem pole I got all...
    • Bob T: I also grew up in Woodcrest. My family moved there in 1958. I hadn’t thought about Chiips or the...


  •