About four years ago I shared the story of David McKnight, the Violinist of Hillsborough Street. I ran into him again yesterday while getting lunch, and he was kind enough to play excerpts from the fight songs of the “Big Four” of the ACC: Duke, Carolina, Wake Forest, and NC State in honor of the tournament now underway.

David has been playing the violin on Hillsborough Street for about fifteen years.

--- We are ad-free. Support this blog by buying City-Blox.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Rather than the typical ‘Year in Review’ posts published in years past (2009, 2010), this year Goodnight Raleigh will show the First Night celebrations downtown.

The biggest attraction this year was the ferris wheel. Artsplosure, the group which puts together First Night Raleigh each year, decided to have a French-inspired theme to this year’s celebrations.

There were several other attractions, including this giant Lite-Brite.

A French-inspired sculpture holding mistletoe (notice couple in the background)

City Plaza

Crowd in front of Progress Energy Building

Looking south on Fayetteville Street

Tribute to Rembrandt and the show at the NC Art Museum by Empire Properties

The color from the ferris wheel spilled over to Hargett Street, as well as the crowds.

Corner of Fayetteville and Hargett Streets

One of my favorite parts of the celebration was someone who is a local fixture on Hargett Street, pictured above. He’s known as the Street Genie, and we profiled him in 2008. His beautiful sounds were a perfect complement to the theme of the night.

Panoramic view of Fayetteville Street captured on my phone

I’ve only been to a few First Night celebrations over the years, but this was by far the liveliest event I’ve witnessed. Fayetteville Street was packed from the Capitol to the Auditorium–a marked change from four years ago, when most of the crowd was concentrated around the area where the acorn drops.

—

To all of our readers: best wishes for a prosperous 2012.

--- We are ad-free. Support this blog by buying City-Blox.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

The new Morgan Street entrance

Since the 1920s, the Junior League of Raleigh has improved the community and the lives of those within it through education, outreach, and voluntarism. About a year ago, the organization moved in to the lower floor of a former IBM research facility on Hillsborough Street near the Capitol Building.

Often overlooked, this 1960s commercial building is a fine example of the International Style. It has the distinctive flair characteristic of its highly accomplished architect, George Matsumoto, along with a rejuvenated new appearance.

A History of Serving Raleigh

At the time the Junior League was formed (then called the Junior Guild), there were similar groups of women organized for the bettering of their community. Not long after the formation, they joined with the Association of Junior Leagues International.

Bargain Box in Cameron Village

One of the most visible examples of the legacy of the Junior League of Raleigh is Bargain Box, a thrift store located in Cameron Village. Since its founding in 1951, Bargain Box has contributed clothing and other items to those in need as well as a substantial amount of resources toward the Junior League’s outreach efforts.

Since then, the women of the Junior League have funded a Boys and Girls club for Wake County, co-sponsored the restoration of the Mordecai House, created SAFEchild (a non-profit agency dedicated to eliminating child abuse), among many other causes that have improved the lives of countless Wake County residents.

Publisher of a Primary Source for this Blog

The Junior League has long played a role in historic preservation and celebrating local history across the country, and here in Raleigh the League is no different.

Among their other many preservation and awareness efforts was the publishing of a book in 1967 which has always been my number one Raleigh reference guide: North Carolina’s Capital Raleigh, by Elizabeth Culbertson Waugh. You can buy a recently revised edition at Quail Ridge Books.

Finalized rendering of IBM Research Facility, drawn by George Matsumoto October 18, 1963. Image courtesy of and copyright NCSU Special Collections.

In a Historic Building Designed for Computer Science

Given the League’s history of appreciation for local culture and architecture, it isn’t a surprise that they were looking for a space with history and in a style that Raleigh is known for. The building they chose once belonged to Capitol Broadcasting Company, but before that was home to IBM.

The significance of IBM’s arrival in Downtown Raleigh in 1965 can’t be understated. Although Research Triangle Park was then in development with the goal of luring multinational companies to North Carolina, IBM’s arrival was the beginning of a major transformation for the city.

Meet the Architect

George Matsumoto was one of the most talented and accomplished architects who taught or practiced in North Carolina. Although his education began at Berkeley, he had to find other education opportunities because of the forcible relocation to internment camps of Japanese-Americans in California during World War II.

George Matsumoto. Image courtesy of and copyright NCSU Special Collections

After studying under Eliel Saarinen at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, he briefly worked for Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill in Chicago before setting up a private practice in Oklahoma. In 1948, he followed many others from Oklahoma to teach at a new architecture school at State College.

He resided in Raleigh for about 13 years, before returning to his native California to teach at Berkeley. Matsumoto left behind a large collection of modern houses across the Triangle which won over 30 awards.

You can read more about George Matsumoto at Triangle Modernist Houses.

The IBM Research Facility From Concept to Construction

About two years after leaving the School of Design for his native California, he gained a commission to build a new research center for IBM on Hillsborough Street in Downtown Raleigh.

Undated proposal for IBM Research Facility. Image courtesy of and copyright NCSU Special Collections

The plans he presented to IBM went through a few iterations, starting out with a very open curtain-wall structure similar in design to the Brooks Hall extension at NC State he designed earlier.

Proposal for IBM Research Facility, June 10, 1963. Image courtesy of and copyright NCSU Special Collections

The openness of this and his other designs went beyond ample usage of natural light — the interiors were often open as well. His philosophy is best illustrated in a letter to a client about the benefits of a modern design:

Flexibility in design and in use, strength and economy of construction, and the use of larger openings to provide better lighting and ventilation as well as a feeling of openness — all contribute to a building whose aesthetic qualities are once again integral with its structure, function, and time. [...] At the same time it will have validity and beauty and perhaps be more meaningful in our present way of life.

–George Matsumoto, 1959

Corporate Espionage and a new Facade

It appears as though he had a demanding client with IBM, as I found several unimplemented designs for the new building at the NCSU Special Collections Research Center. At the time, the company was concerned with corporate espionage and the open interior and exterior were changed a few times to give more privacy.

Undated crayon on tissue drawing for IBM Research Facility. Image courtesy of and copyright NCSU Special Collections

With each iteration, the windows became smaller and more narrow. The end result was a structure similar to the crayon on tissue drawing in the photo above. Although the final plans were different from his other projects, it was a highly functional building for the purpose it was needed for.

The Renovation, Coming Full Circle

G. Milton Small III of Small Kane Webster Conley has long been a Community Advisor for the Junior League, and his firm spent a few years trying to find the right space for their new facility.

Junior League proposal as seen from Morgan Street. Rendering courtesy of Small Kane Webster Conley.

Appreciating this assistance as well as his firm’s history with the building, the Junior League chose Small Kane Webster Conley to modernize it while staying as true to history as possible.

The same firm (then G. Milton Small and Associates) handled construction of the building in 1965.

Junior League proposal as seen from Hillsborough Street. Rendering courtesy of Small Kane Webster Conley.

The renovation proposal got a nod from Matsumoto, who had worked with G. Milton Small Jr. extensively in the late 1950s and early 60s. Milton Small III recently showed Matsumoto the design:

I was out in California two years ago for our National AIA convention, and my wife and I were coming back in from northern California. Once I figured my schedule I called George Matsumoto who lives in Oakland, and he said to come by and have coffee. The next morning we drove into Oakland and spent an hour and a half talking to George. He lives by himself, but his kids–who are in their fifties now–are there and take care of him. He has his Eames chair and lives in a wonderful little house on the hill in the forest. He thought [the new design] was a good addition.

– Milton Small III

New facade facing Hillsborough Street

The League worked with architect Brian Jones and the resulting transformation is open, new, and modern, yet is also closer to the original design and Matsumoto’s other buildings. It is a great success story in adaptive reuse.

The Junior League Today

The new Center for Community Development continues on the mission of community involvement. It also serves as affordable meeting and training space for businesses, individuals, and nonprofits.

The over 1800 members are still primarily focused on providing leadership development for women. Since 1930 they have raised over $4.8 million for the services of women and children.

If you’d like to learn more about the Junior League, please visit their web site.

New Life as a Research Facility

While the Junior League has occupied the first floor for about a year, the upper floor has been vacant. That changes in January of 2012, when Brooks Bell will operate from 711 Hillsborough Street. Design and interior work is currently taking place in advance of the move.

Brooks Bell is a company that specializes in user research and analytics. Utilizing data mining, A/B testing, and other research methods, they are able to provide companies with more effective ad and commerce campaigns.

In 2012, this modest yet historic and pretty building and the people inside will contribute toward our local economy as well as the community. Although not paired with a residential component, it is a truly mixed use space accommodating non-profits, charity, outreach, business, and leadership training.

Raleigh is incredibly lucky to have this resource which furthers society, builds leadership skills, and helps those in need.

Further Reading

• Junior League of Raleigh
• Small Kane Webster Conley
• Brooks Bell
• Previous articles tagged ‘Milton Small’

--- We are ad-free. Support this blog by buying City-Blox.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

If you’re looking for a place downtown for bike maintenance and repair, or in the market for a vintage steel-framed bike, you’re in luck. About a month ago, a new bike shop opened its doors in Raleigh: the Oak City Cycling Project.

inside the shop

The Oak City Cycling Project is run by David Zell, William Randle, and Ken Metzger. These three guys are passionate about bikes and increasing ridership and community within the Raleigh area:

We’re a member-owned and managed cycling shop focused on increasing bicycle ridership in Raleigh through the sale of vintage steel-framed bikes. We restore and sell bicycles that are meant to last a lifetime.  Our aim is to get as many folks cycling as possible. We do that by keeping costs low, being transparent about our services and operations, and servicing everyone –  from a first time rider to the experienced cyclist. We love what we do.

–David Zell

It was originally run out of a back yard until the three found a space in the warehouse art space known as Ruby Red on 726 N. West Street, near where it intersects with Peace Street.

Ken soldering a frame

When asked about the “project” part of the name, David explained that it is more than a place that fixes up bikes and resells them. In the short term, they plan on offering open shop hours where riders can use the bike stand and shared tools, as well as get maintenance and repair questions answered. They are also currently working on basic maintenance and repair tutorial videos.

Longer term, the Oak City Cycling Project will have a storefront location downtown with a bit more foot traffic. In addition to the shop, the storefront would also serve as a small batch coffee shop and have a few beers on tap.

In a couple of weeks, you can catch up with the guys behind the project as well as other riders in the area. On October 29th, the Oak City Cycling Project is partnering with Crank Arm Rickshaw and Raleigh Bike Love to organize the Scaredy Cat – a Halloween-themed social ride and scavenger hunt followed by bands, beer, and food.

It’s great that Downtown Raleigh has this new resource. I look forward to seeing this project bloom and connect more riders in the area.

If you’d like to keep tabs on the vintage bikes they restore and put up for sale, you can find them on Facebook as well as the official web site.

Oak City Cycling Project
726 N. West Street
Wednesdays- 6:00 – 10:00PM
Sundays – 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

--- We are ad-free. Support this blog by buying City-Blox.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

The building where the future Union Station would live

On October 11th, Raleigh citizens will elect a new mayor, City Council representatives, a new school board, and vote on two bond referenda. One of these referenda is a $40 million bond for transportation improvements. At the center of this bond is $3 million to build the proposed Union Station in the Warehouse District.

Few things have the ability to affect a city in a positive way as improvements to transportation and infrastructure. It is because of this I encourage you to join me in voting YES on the referendum.

The inside of the building where the future Union Station would be

Potential For Grand Transformation

It wasn’t that long ago that the area around the proposed site was a ghost town and a rather scary place to be at night. This particular building is nearest to the Boylan Wye, which for decades served as a community for passing travelers hopping on freight cars. The bridge provided shelter, and the sharp grade of the curve at the Wye made it particularly easy to hop aboard the slow-moving freighters. The junction between so many lines also made it a transit point for more than just those at the Amtrak station:

This is also one of Raleigh’s richest sites for homeless anecdotes – the small bonfires directly under the bridge, at least one murder I can remember – plus the railroad shacks that have served as shelter. Years ago, there were practically hobo mansions built into the old wooden beam dumpstalls built into the hillside between the wye and the station.

– John Dancy-Jones

The shacks are all gone, and the graffiti and traveler remnants are fewer and far between. Directly overhead on one side of the bridge is the Boylan Bridge Brewpub, now a bastion of nightlife providing an incredible view of the city. The area has been a bit slower to recover than the other areas of downtown, but it’s moving in the right direction.

The left side of this early 1970s photograph shows the building where the proposed Union Station would be. Also visible is a viaduct that once connected Boylan Heights to the Warehouse District. Image taken by Raleigh Boy.

A New Gateway to the Arts District

The site of the proposed station is in a vacant building on the edge of the Warehouse District. Like most of the buildings around it, it was once home to Dillon Supply, a company that produced steel and pipe products. The new Union Station would renovate and build upon this former industrial structure built in the 1960s.

Exterior of the Contemporary Art Museum, a neighbor to the proposed Union Station

Dillon Supply has vacated nearly all of the buildings, and the area is now home to a growing arts community – including Flanders Gallery, Visual Art Exchange, the new Contemporary Art Museum, DesignBox, among others.

Passengers disembarking from this potential station would get a proper introduction to the city of Raleigh: a fantastic view of the skyline, art galleries, and the authentic feel of an area rich with history. Fayetteville Street is just a couple of minutes walk away.

Transportation Fuels Growth: Why Raleigh Needs a YES Vote

The existing Amtrak station nearby is inadequate for today’s needs, much less that of the future. As passenger rail continues to grow year after year, it’s important that we provide a new, modern, and capable facility for people arriving in to the Capital City. Further, investment in rail travel makes economic sense: “Every $1 invested in rail systems (track, locomotives, bridges, etc.) returns $3 to the American economy” (source).

More specifics on the proposed station:

Raleigh’s proposed Union Station would be a hub located in Downtown. It would connect Raleigh’s multiple transportation modes, including Capital Area Transit bus service; Triangle Transit’s regional bus service; long-distance bus service (Greyhound); Amtrak rail service; the Silver Star, Carolinian and Piedmont rail services; and future local and regional rail transit, including high-speed rail services. Raleigh’s Union Station would be among the first facilities in the state to have a high-level platform that allows passengers to board trains without the need for steps.

The existing Amtrak Station on Cabarrus Street can no longer adequately serve an increasing number of rail passengers and must be replaced with a larger facility.

– Raleigh City Government

The most important point is that you vote in the upcoming municipal elections (as well as encourage those around you to do so), but I also hope you will join me in voting yes on this referendum.

Further Information:

• Bond Referendum Would Allocate Funds to Union Station Project (City of Raleigh)
• 2011 Municipal and Board of Education Elections (Wake County Government)
• Polling Place Locator (North Carolina State Board of Elections)

Related Articles:

• Echoes of an Era Past
• The Boylan Wye: Why The Wye?
• The Piedmont: Amtrak’s North Carolina-Only Line
• Reminiscences of a Raleigh Boy, Part 4: The Warehouse District
• Denizens of the Coal Yard
• The Last Building on West Martin Street
• Under The Bridge

--- We are ad-free. Support this blog by buying City-Blox.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Peter Lamb and the Wolves, from Episode 001 of Sound Situations

There’s a new show out that is broadcast both on television and online that focuses exclusively on the music coming out of the Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill areas: Sound Situations. Produced by Suzy Hooker and hosted by Kelly Reid, it is nothing short of outstanding.

The first episode was just released online, and is well worth a watch.

The show is not simply interviews with members of local bands, it is a profile of a group and the area they reside in. It brings you a bit closer to understanding the folks creating much of the creative and artistic culture here.

I’m a bit embarrassed to admit I have never listened to either of the two bands profiled in the inaugural show, but now want to after seeing it. The first, Peter Lamb and the Wolves, is a jazz-like band (they’ll explain why it’s not jazz). It’s a style I can’t say I’ve been fond of up until now, but am now interested in and wanted to hear more of. Included in the interview is a bit of background on Raleigh’s legendary jazz nightclub in the 1970s, the Frog and Nightgown, which was a part of the Cameron Village Subway.

The second band profiled is I Was Totally Destroying It, one I’ve heard a lot about, but had never actually listened to.�If the goal of the show is to create new fans by telling a story, it has certainly succeeded.

More info:

Sound Situations is a 30 minute, bi-weekly television and web series that focuses its spotlight onto the local music happenings in the Triangle area of North Carolina. The culturally rich and diverse cities of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and Carrboro are producing some of the finest musicians in the country and we thought you should know. We’ve lined up twelve bands into six episodes of interviews, live performances, a glimpse behind the stage lights and music and some intimate, impromtu, out-of-the-elemends live performances for your enjoyment.

Our crew of music-loving volunteers meets the featured artists where they are: observing, filming and enjoying. We’re passionate about this and want to share something really special with our audience. We hope you enjoy the show.

– Sound Situations

In addition to viewing online, you can also watch on RTN 10 Thursdays and Saturdays at 6:00 pm.

You can read more about Sound Situations from Dani over at�New Raleigh.

--- We are ad-free. Support this blog by buying City-Blox.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Every year, for the past 3 years, I’ve gone to the Kirby Derby, and every year I’ve come away with the same smile on my face for the whole bike ride home. Everything about this neighborhood party has everything a good neighborhood party should have: costumes, cross-dressed people running down the street, responsible amounts of drinking and yelling/booing at kids for kicking full beer cans over (“they’ll understand later on, we’re just training them early about priorities”) and giant feathered chicken carts flying into hay bale barricades/the crowd.

This year, however, was special. This year marked the tenth annual Kirby Derby, replete with families, friends and a general sense of amazement about what’s developed over the past decade. This year saw the return of the R2-Beer2, the debut of the ‘Donk’ racer (complete with chain steering wheel and dice on the mirror), and a surprisingly well built cast of racers. The usual feats of strength and agility were in order for the day: the Pinecar derby, the parade, the much anticipated Drag Race, and, of course, the soapbox derby.

My favorite part of the above photo is the father in the background.

New this year to the Derby was the group of protesters from a temperance group, aptly dubbed the Public Morals Society (and you people thought acronyms were dead), bravely chanting things such as “‘K-I-R-B-Y’, What does it spell? DAMNATION!”. Their conservative garb and disdain for the Derby was a very clever play on certain conservative value based political movements.

The drag race, as usual, provided the same gender confused pandemonium as years past, and a winner was crowned after one heat.

Finally, the Soapbox Derby – where people hurdle themselves downhill with only their reflexes and the quality of the their design to rely on. As I’ve been to several Derbies, the quality of craftsmanship has improved immensely. Some may argue that this takes away the fun of seeing derby cars completely disintegrate by their second run, and while there is merit for hoping for catastrophic failure, the time and effort that is put into these cars is quite impressive!

The chicken from the opening shot got a great up close view of the crowd, mainly by plowing right into it. No one was hurt, thankfully!

So, another Kirby Derby has come and gone, and all I can say is a huge THANK YOU to the neighborhood for such a wonderful event. As I said in a past post, the best part of the Kirby Derby is it’s goal – to bring a neighborhood together and throw an awesome party, for everyone to pitch in lawn space and a one-day-a-year sacrifice of their road to let everyone else enjoy the camaraderie of the community. It’s emphasizing all the right things and everyone who goes to the Kirby Derby leaves just like I did, with a big smile on their face, all the way home.

(a smile and maybe a fake mustache, too… if you’re lucky!)

Previous Kirby Derby Posts:

• Kirby Derby 3000
• Kirby Derby 2009

--- We are ad-free. Support this blog by buying City-Blox.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Antique drinking fountains, located on Capitol Square

In the past few years, Raleigh has been fortunate and invested in public-use infrastructure projects. This includes the installation of new benches, shelters, sidewalks, and other related items. Noticeably absent from these improvements (outside of public parks), is the outdoor drinking fountain.

As Raleigh continues to improve the experience of pedestrians, cyclists, joggers, bus riders, and others, it should consider adding more outdoor drinking fountains to address mankind’s most primitive need: thirst.

A Brief Look at the History of Outdoor Drinking Fountains

Public drinking fountains have been around since the dawn of human civilization. In fact, they were often the yardstick used to gauge whether an urban area had been “civilized.”

Public drinking infrastructure started with simple stone basins made by the Sumerians to more sophisticated gravity-powered systems used by the Greeks, Romans, and Islamic civilizations. Most of these systems fell into disrepair and largely disappeared from Europe during the Dark Ages. Revived during the Renaissance, they have been improved upon ever since.

1908 Postcard showing drinking well on Capitol Square

Drinking Fountains in the 20th Century

Although there were public sources of drinking water at the turn of the century, many were unsanitary and the source of illness:

The drinking fountain, as we know it, was developed in the early 1900s by Halsey Taylor and Haws. These two companies, founded by Halsey Willard Taylor and Luther Haws respectively, pioneered a major change in how water was dispensed in public places. In doing so, they also helped reduce the instance of waterborne diseases among the general population. In fact, Halsey W. Taylor’s dedication to providing a safe and sanitary drink to the public was prompted by his father’s death from typhoid fever caused by a contaminated water supply.

- Al Honeycutt

This antique fountain on Capitol Square hasn't worked in a very long time.

A Look at What’s Left in Raleigh Today

I know of five outdoor drinking fountains in Raleigh that are not within a city park: three on Capitol Square, one not far away on Halifax Mall, and one on the NC State campus. Of these, only one works: the one engaged via a foot pump on Capitol Square. Those fountains were probably installed in the 1920s or 1930s.

Antique fountain on Halifax Mall

The other fountain is located on Halifax Mall and is of the same design as one of the three located on Capitol Square. Considering that all of the buildings around it are much newer, it was likely relocated in the 1970s when the Mall was built. Although it features a modern activator button on the front, it is currently non-operational.

Granite drinking fountain on NC State campus

Another non-working drinking fountain can be found at NC State. Near Primrose Hall off of Hillsborough Street, this granite fountain was a gift from the 1914 graduating class and has been moved since it was built. I’m not sure when it stopped functioning as a source of water.

To learn more about this fountain, please read How N.C. State’s 1914 Stone Fountain Became a Planter.

Drinking fountain in Chavis Park, which is also currently non-operational

The Exception: City Parks

Outdoor drinking fountains have been installed in Raleigh in recent years. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, the only recipient of these fountains are the destination parks managed by Raleigh Parks and Recreation.

Drinking fountain by the playground and basketball courts on Chamberlain St.

While it’s great that these are here, they primarily serve the needs of those that traveled specifically to the park. They usually aren’t along common paths used by joggers, pedestrians, bus riders, and cyclists.

Placing new drinking fountains in strategic locations in the city could go a long way to encouraging people to be more active. More drinking fountains mean more options for runners and pedestrians–it’s not always practical to carry a bottle of water with you.

Moore Square Master Plan

A Glaring Omission in the Moore Square Master Plan

If I had to name the place that was most in need of a drinking fountain, it would be Moore Square. I was surprised and disappointed to see that although the Moore Square Master Plan includes a play fountain and an outdoor Café, there are no drinking fountains. I sincerely hope that this is simply an oversight and will be in the final design of the new Moore Square.

City Plaza also makes for a deserving location. There are light sculptures, shops, and a decorative motion activated water fountain–but no water to drink. While I appreciate the City’s investment into public art, water for drinking should come before water as decoration. One could be creative about the installation and solve both problems with one structure.

A Big Win For Everyone

The biggest use case I see for more drinking fountains are the numerous downtown festivals. Hopscotch, SPARKcon, Raleigh Wide Open, among others would benefit tremendously from more available drinking fountains. Walking around large crowds in an urban jungle quickly depletes internal fluids and it’s not always convenient to buy a soda or bottled water.

Having more drinking fountains would also encourage more outdoor exercise, by allowing joggers to stay hydrated. It would help cool down riders of public transportation that must wait for buses in the sun and car exhaust.

Although there are maintenance costs involved, drinking fountains can be found for $1,500. Put in the perspective of costs associated with streetscape improvements, it is well worth the investment.

Suggest it to City Planners and Leaders

The City of Raleigh is conducting an online survey to help develop a Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan. It runs for the next few days (ending June 30), and I hope you’ll take the short survey to provider planners with what is most beneficial to you.

There are several open-ended questions on how to improve the pedestrian experience. If you feel that the addition of more water fountains in pedestrian areas would be beneficial to you, I encourage you to mention it.

Take the survey for the City of Raleigh Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan >

--- We are ad-free. Support this blog by buying City-Blox.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Back in February of this year a miracle, of sorts, took place at 15 Tarboro St. in East Raleigh. I am speaking of course, of the official opening of the St. Monica Teen Center. The city-sponsored facility provides a safe haven for neighborhood teenagers for after school activities, recreation and interaction with other teens and adults.

The Center has a computer lab, a homework assistance area, a fitness/dance space and a youth lounge, among other amenities. Under the jurisdiction of the Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department, the center has a full-time director, and is the first such teen-oriented facility funded by the City of Raleigh. In its three short months of operation, the Teen Center is already having a positive effect on the community.

Located at the corner of Tarboro and E. Edenton streets, the Teen Center is housed in the historic St. Monica School building, which has a long history of serving the youth of the community.

In 1930 Raleigh’s first Roman Catholic bishop, the Most Reverend William Hafey, purchased the old Ferrall estate on New Bern Ave. for $100 and established St. Monica parish and school. His was a noble effort to minister to not only Raleigh’s tiny African-American Catholic community of the time, but to the greater community, as well.

The school opened in the Fall of 1930, and was staffed by five nuns from the Sisters the of Immaculate Heart of Mary order, based in Scranton, PA. The old Ferrall homeplace served as their convent.

Bishop Hafey (seen here in episcopal vestments), is accompanied by Fr. Thomas Griffin, rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral and founder of Cathedral School, at the dedication ceremony of St. Monica School in 1930.

St. Monica School consisted of four large classrooms of equal size, one of which doubled as the school’s chapel. A small office adjoined each of the classrooms. It was modeled after a similar structure erected in Greensboro, also under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Raleigh. At its peak of operation during the 1940s and ’50s, the 4-acre campus included the brick school building, the convent, a “domestic training school,” a rectory, St. Monica Church itself and a small school auditorium.

This is how the old Ferrall homeplace appeared in 1930 when it served as the convent for the Sisters IHM, the teachers who staffed St. Monica School. It stood at the corner of New Bern Ave. and Tarboro St.

Later on, during the civil rights era, St. Monica  School was a proud witness to the early desegregation of schools in Raleigh. In 1953 Bishop Vincent Waters (third bishop of Raleigh, 1945-1975) decreed that racial segregation in Catholic parishes and schools in his diocese should end. The following year St. Monica graduates were allowed admittance to Cathedral High School, making it the first integrated school in North Carolina.

By 1967,  all St. Monica students had been incorporated into Cathedral School, and the diocese subsequently closed St. Monica. The parish itself was decommissioned in 1968. In 1972 the campus property was sold to the City of Raleigh.

In the subsequent decade a private individual purchased the Ferrall house and moved it to another site. A Bojangles restaurant was later built on the vacant lot. The rectory, training school building, the auditorium and church building were demolished one by one until only the school building itself remained. Then in the early 1980s Edenton St. was extended through the property to connect with New Bern Ave. Thus the vivisection was complete.

For many years thereafter the old St. Monica building was occupied by the New Bern Ave. Day Care Center, until it ultimately vacated the premises, as well. Later, through the efforts of local preservationists, the City of Raleigh designated the venerable old building as a Raleigh Historic Landmark in 2008.

The traverse hall of  St. Monica School. I can easily picture Sister Mary Benedicta hustling down the corridor at the first period bell on her way to greet her classroom of eager students.

Editor’s note: Saint Monica was the mother of Saint Augustine, the fourth century Bishop of Hippo, in Africa. She is revered by the Catholic Church as the patron of abuse victims, alcoholics, victims of adultery, disappointing children, widows, married women, and mothers.

Archival photos of St. Monica School courtesy North Carolina State Archives

--- We are ad-free. Support this blog by buying City-Blox.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

This weekend the Contemporary Art Museum will officially open with a catered street festival and black tie event Friday, and the free admission official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday.

It’s my belief that CAM’s opening in this beautiful building in the Warehouse District is the greatest thing to happen to Downtown Raleigh since the new Convention Center opened almost three years ago.

What Exactly is ‘Contemporary Art’?

In the simplest of terms, contemporary art is regarded as works created in the present time. Currently, it often explores social issues, new technologies, performance, street culture, or the three dimensional space. Contemporary art also frequently exhibits the items in our environment that we interact with daily.

A Brief History of the Contemporary Art Museum

Founded in 1983, CAM was originally located in the space where Tir Na Nog is now. After losing support and funding from a City Council which had less of an appreciation for the arts in the mid 90s, the name was changed from the City Gallery of Contemporary Art to the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) as part of a plan that included finding a permanent home in Raleigh.

Moore Square in 2008, with Tir Na Nog and the Pour House in the bottom foreground

The following personal account sums up the history of the area around Moore Square where it was once located:

From 1989-1992, I worked in Peden Gallery II as a Gallery Assistant (Raleigh Contemporary Gallery shared the next door space (the two galleries occupied the Caffe Luna space). [...]

The City Gallery of Contemporary Art was around the corner (where Tir Na Nog is now). We used to wake up the sleeping homeless everyday when we arrived at the gallery (they liked to sleep on our doorstep). BANKS Fine Food was across Hargett and they served free meals to the homeless regularly. The fountains in the back were on every day back then. First Friday consisted of four or five galleries and we all served wine to the visitors. The Grove was a great music spot (where Pour House is now) and it also hosted the very first “NCSU Art to Wear” fashion show. [...]

There were some hookers downtown back then and some drug activity in front of the galleries. It was different then but it was great working at a gallery after class at NCSU.

– Nabs K. Lately

East side, before construction

In 1997, CAM purchased the 20,000 sq. ft. brick building in the heart of the Warehouse District for $460,000. Various plans were debated for the space, until eventually the idea of a modern rehab of the historic structure took shape.

North side, before renovations

CAM aimed for a modern museum in a historic building without a permanent inventory.

CAM interior during construction

A New Priority for the City of Raleigh

In 2005, the City of Raleigh committed $1 million to building the Contemporary Art Museum. It has long been a cause Mayor Charles Meeker championed, and was cited by him in the recent State of the City address.

CAM Classroom

Merging with the NC State College of Design

In 2006, CAM merged with the College of Design and moved operations to the college. The programs of CAM have continued from offices there, as well as various spaces throughout the area.

One of the ways CAM will be a part of the community is its ties to Design Camp:

Design Camp is an annual summer design program offered to high school students at NC State University College of Design. Since its inception over 25 years ago, Design Camp has exposed more than 2,500 high school students to the exciting world of design. Design Camp informs students about college study in design and raises awareness of the impact of art and design through a series of weeklong summer programs. In 2007, Design Camp became an outreach program of CAM (Contemporary Art Museum). CAM joined the College of Design in February 2006, becoming the lead component in the college’s Art + Design in the Community Initiative. Design Camp projects challenge students to explore their creativity and critical-thinking skills while pushing them to try a range of techniques and media. The exploration of the design process teaches students to question, make choices, generate alternatives, work collaboratively and ultimately broaden their understanding of the world around them.

Beyond Design Camp, CAM also benefits from the operational structure that exists within the College of Design, and the collaboration opportunities available with the students of the college.

CAM gives the College of Design the distinction of being affiliated with a proper art museum, as well as a direct link to the continuing resurgence of Downtown Raleigh.

Independent Weekly Gallery

Emerging Artists and the Independent Weekly Wing

The Independent has long been a supporter of the Contemporary Art Museum, and an entire gallery bears the name of the Triangle’s local alt-weekly. The lower gallery will focus on emerging artists, the first artist being New York-based Naoko Ito.

CAM canopy before the clouds were added

Adding Geometry and Modernity to a Historic Building

CAM represents movement and progress for the area in countless ways, but one of the ways in which it shines the most is the building itself.

It’s unclear if the designers had intended this, but the striking geometric canopy on the east elevation is a beautiful nod to the area’s architectural history as an innovator in the field of creative shelters. Dorton Arena, the Catalano House (razed), the Milton Small Office Building, and the domes at the fairgrounds are the some of the most prominent examples of this legacy.

CAM exterior during final phase of construction

The project was a result of the collaboration of local firm Clearscapes and LA-based Brooks + Scarpa.  Originally a 1927 grocery supply warehouse, a railroad spur (still visible today) runs from the area around the Amtrak station to the structure where groceries were once unloaded. It later served various industrial functions, one of the most recent being a chrome bumper repair shop.

CAM interior, showing original elevator shaft

Retaining Original Character

In addition to the railroad spur leading up the alley to the loading dock, the original elevator is still extant. Its location represents the transition from the historical to the futuristic: the cloud pattern on the underside of the canopy continues inside the building, and stops at the elevator.

CAM exterior, during golden hour

The Most Beautiful Building of 2011

More than once I’ve made the “most beautiful” remark about new buildings in Raleigh. The first was the new Convention Center and Shimmer Wall. The most recent was the North Carolina Museum of Art.

CAM is not only a beautiful modern building, but it is also repurposed (the greenest kind of building) and most importantly, it represents an increase in creative capital for the Capital City. CAM deserves the honor this year of being this blog’s “most beautiful.”

CAM interior, showing blend between indoors and out

A Cultural Catalyst for Raleigh

Equally as important as being a beautiful building and shining example of historic preservation, CAM represents a significant leap for Downtown Raleigh entertainment options.

CAM interior

Having an art museum downtown represents a significant shift. Now, there is another before-dinner entertainment destination that is easily within walking distance of the restaurants downtown.

CAM shelter with R-Line in motion

The R-Line makes the museum within a few minutes reach of any of the circulator’s stops. Located near Design Box and Flanders Gallery, the once rugged and desolate Warehouse District is rapidly rising from the ashes.

CAM is actively bringing Raleigh into a new era of innovation, art, design, preservation, and cultural awareness. The new permanent home represents its rightful return to where it belongs: downtown.

The Opening Celebration

Although officially opening April 30th, April 29th is the fancy preview of the gallery and street festival, featuring the culinary treats of the area’s finest establishments, including (but not limited to) Poole’s Diner, bu•ku, Jibarra, and Humble Pie. Handcrafted cocktails will be available from Foundation, and desserts from Escazu, Locopops, and Crumb.

CAM interior, before laid gravel on east side

Tickets will not be available at the door. They are on sale until Wednesday, April 27th.

CAM exterior, before laid gravel on east side

General Information

Located at 409 West Martin Street. Museum hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and first and third Fridays of the month open until 9 p.m. The museum is closed on Tuesday.

General admission to the museum is $5. CAM Raleigh members, children 10 and under, members of the military, and NC State students, staff, and faculty are admitted free.

Related Articles:

• Like a Phoenix from the Ashes: Raleigh’s Downtown Warehouse District
• Construction Begins on the Contemporary Art Museum
• North Carolina’s Newest Wonder (the North Carolina Art Museum)
• The Most Beautiful Building Lights Up (Raleigh Convention Center)

Further Reading:

• CAM Raleigh (official site)
• CAM Informational Brochure [PDF]
• New Contemporary Art Museum aims to stir Raleigh’s artistic pulse (News & Observer)

Welcome back to Downtown Raleigh, CAM!

--- We are ad-free. Support this blog by buying City-Blox.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook