Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
Resembling a joyous family reunion, past and current residents of Greensboro’s South Benbow neighborhoods — Clinton Hills, Benbow Park and Spaulding — celebrated the area’s new national historic designation. At Providence Baptist Church, dozens of “neighbors and friends” shared stories of their respective childhoods and pointed to their homes on large maps of the South Benbow Road National Historic District.
A smiling Eric Woodward, an architect, said his work to identify and confer historic significance to the area is a “decade-long effort for this overnight success. Late last year, the South Benbow Road area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which is the official federal inventory of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant on a national, State, or local level in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering and culture.
Greensboro resident Regina Duren gushed with delight as she pointed to her residence on New Castle Rd. in Benbow Park. “The key word (about this area) is historic. We moved through society thinking everything was like where we lived, somewhat idyllic. Our parents worked very hard in a difficult time for people, who like me, to own homes here, where everybody had the same mentality growing up in this area, pushing every child up.”
Echoing Duren’s sentiment, her friend and childhood neighbor, Barbara Jackson, recalled her youth in and around Benbow Park’s Carlton Avenue “where everyone felt safe, secure and wanted; where we played in the streets until the streetlights came on, and we didn’t have to worry about harm coming to us.” Both Duren and Jackson reside in the homes that were once their parents.
Greensboro resident Christina Yongue resides in the house her grandfather Samuel Hodges II owned on Ross Ave. “It means so much to my heart to see this area celebrated for its history; and for the expertise of the residents here is just phenomenal, with so many stories still yet to be uncovered,” she said. “For my children, it means growing up surrounded by elders and ancestors - intelligent people and history makers.”
Resident Pamela Leak recalled her youth, saying, “When I was little, I didn’t know this area would be a big deal. These neighborhoods are a community of families that worked together, Black families who worked together for everyone.”
Greensboro City Councilmember Sharon Hightower, whose District 1 includes South Benbow Road, said, “I think it brings a heightened awareness to this area that many people did not realize has a rich history that was here all the way back to the Civil Rights era,” she said. “South Benbow Road area has had a great impact on this city and across this country with so many talented people, achievers across social, academic and legal areas.”
