Vernon Building
by Melissa Bittinger
Title
Vernon Building
Artist
Melissa Bittinger
Medium
Photograph - Fine Art Photography, Photographic Art
Description
Corner of Washington and Elm in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina sits the oldest remaining building in the Old Greensborough Historic District, the Vernon Building built in 1883 in the Italianate style.
This building's long and distinguished history started as C.M. Vanstory & Co. which soon became the Vanstory Clothing Company. A fine gentlemen's clothing store with high quality merchandise for many years.
Purchased in 1887 by Robert and Virginia Vernon. The Mrs. named the building the 'Vernon' and had it put on a cornice in gingerbread millwork.
Currently the first floor is home to a restaurant, Liberty Oaks, and retail shops. The second and third floors are now exclusive apartments, with the remaining fourth floor turned into a luxury penthouse with a rooftop deck.
I knew there was bound to be some history to the building but I knew absolutely none of the history until researching after I took the photo. At the time, it was just a gorgeous piece of architecture.
Turns out that on the day I was born, my dad had to take a quick trip to Vanstory Clothing Co. and see a good friend who worked there, to replace his one good pair of pants my mother threw up on while in the hospital to deliver me...apparently I was a bit slow in coming and she insisted on having lunch...which didn't sit very well with the medication they gave her.
Now I did know that story but did not realize the connection to the building. I am loving learning about the history of some of my downtown, it has been just fascinating!
Uploaded
January 12th, 2015
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