The mystery of Lydia "solved"

 

We LOVE N.C. ghost stories here at the Dare Society. Always have. Always will. As mentioned before, "Lydia" was one that enamored me as a young kid at the school library. Well, after decades, we may have an update on her.

From WRAL's Heather Leah:

Historians and paranormal experts alike have long tried to solve the mystery of Lydia, matching the folklore of the "vanishing hitchhiker" with old records of car crashes and deaths along the haunted route.

But how did the real history of Lydia get lost, and why is her real bridge now closed to traffic? Is it because too many people saw her spirit along the roadside?

As Leah reports, "Lydia" may very well have been one Annie L. Jackson, who died in a crash near Jamestown in June 1920. 

Born in 1885, Annie was around 35 years old, and she worked in a cigar factory. She had been living in a nearby hotel while working, and had only been there for a few months. Her parents also lived locally.

The authors of Looking for Lydia believe Annie's middle initial, which they report was 'L,' might be where the name Lydia originated.

Today, Annie is buried in Holts Chapel Cemetery in Greensboro.  ...

After the tragic death, people began claiming to see the ghostly hitchhiker appear beneath the bridge – which was still in use at the time. Years later, however, the road beneath the bridge would be re-routed to go beneath a new bridge – leaving the real Lydia's Bridge to disappear beneath the overgrowth.

Today, a new, modern bridge takes traffic away from "Lydia's Bridge." But the town of Jamestown still has designs on honoring her memory. However, Covid-19 pressed the pause button on that.

 

RELATED POSTS:

• Favorite N.C. ghost stories
• Roberts: N.C. ghost authority

 

Image courtesy of WFMY.

What's the most important building in North Carolina?

 

NC State's student newspaper, Technician, celebrated its 100th anniversary this past weekend. (Congrats!) One part of the festivities included a tour of William Neal Reynolds Coliseum on campus.  I was not able to make the tour (I've seen the renovated "Old Barn" a number of times in recent years), but some friends of mine did. One comment that was made during the tour was this: Reynolds Coliseum is the most "historic" building in the state of North Carolina based on all of the major events that have taken place there and the presidents and cultural events that have taken place within those walls.

This got me/us thinking: What IS the most historic, or maybe the most important building in this great state? Maybe it is Reynolds. Basketball-wise alone it hosted the old Dixie Classic, the first years of the ACC Tournament, NCAA tourney games and so many great State-Carolina/State-Duke games, etc. It has also hosted Presidents Reagan, Obama and Clinton; has welcomed the Rolling Stones, Louis Armstrong, Elton John and more; and numerous other musical events and student events.

What other buildings could be in contention? One could argue the Greensboro Coliseum. One could possibly make the case for Biltmore house, which is one of the most visited homes in the United States. Or perhaps the state Capitol, or the Legislative Building. You could also make a case for the Woolworth location in Greensboro, which is today the site of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.

What are your thoughts? What is the most "historic" building in the state? 

Reynolds photo courtesy of wikimapia.org; Woolworth's photo courtesy of americanhistory.si.edu

What's the most N.C. movie?

Actress Amy Adams recently celebrated her birthday. I only know this because my good friend Kevin Brewer (@RealKevinBrewer) mentioned it on Twitter by referencing three of her best roles, which included her stint on TV's "The Office."

No. 1 on Kevin's list was "Junebug." My response was "Junebug is the most authentically North Carolina film. Not even close."

If you are not familiar with it, "Junebug" involves a HIGHLY dysfunctional family in central N.C. (it was actually filmed in and around Winston-Salem). The older, more urbane brother in the family has moved to Chicago, met an English art expert and essentially turned his back on his family and his old life in Cackalacky. But -- TWIST! -- his art aficionado girlfriend wants to check out the bizarre and intriguing art of a mentally challenged man -- in N.C.! So they must come home to visit the brother's family, which includes Adams in the role of the younger brother's wife. Oh, and they live with his parents. Adams' character Ashley is ENAMORED with the big city Madeleine - and it's painful, charming and funny. To wit: here is Ashley thinking about her brother-in-law's girlfriend, whom she is about to meet:

I wonder what she looks like. I bet she's skinny. She probably is. She's skinnier'n me and prettier too. Now I'll hate her. Oh, I can't wait! 

Kevin Brewer is right: Adams is SO GOOD in this role. Here's more.



The authentic parts of the movie show up in ways that normally are butchered in film: the setting and accents. "Junebug" nails both, right down to the small details inside the homes, the church reception hall... everywhere. Heck, there are even scenes filmed at Greensboro's Replacements -- where employees discuss the Carolina Panthers!

The only thing that comes as close to "nailing" N.C. is perhaps Danny McBride's "Eastbound and Down" or his earlier "The Fist Foot Way." "Talladega Nights" has some spot-on moments, too, for sure. But even all of those are more caricature in nature.



North Carolina has a legacy with film-making, no doubt about it. Oodles of movies have been made here. But what other films are spot-on with capturing the state? It's hard to top "Junebug." Go watch it.

Raleigh passes Cleveland, Durham passes W-S in population estimates

Raleigh is now the 43rd largest city in America, bumping Cleveland from that spot, based on population estimates, according to Buffalo Business First.

Projected populations are generated by a computer formula that Business First developed in 2000 and recalibrates annually. The formula uses a decade of U.S. Census Bureau data to extrapolate growth trends.

In addition, Durham is now the fourth largest city in the state, bypassing Winston-Salem. The Bull City had 237,214 residents as of Nov. 22, while Winston-Salem boats an estimated population of 234,268. A year ago, Winston-Salem had 229,828 residents, compared to 229,171 in Durham.

Raleigh remains firmly entrenched as the second biggest city in North Carolina. With a population of 426,708, Raleigh ranks comfortably ahead of Greensboro (260,927) but well behind Charlotte (729,781).

The Queen City boasts a No. 18 ranking nationally. Raleigh is 43rd, Greensboro 72nd, Durham 84th and Winston Salem 85th.

Asheville, Hickory & Wilmington: Overvalued cities?

A new study that lists the most overvalued and undervalued places to live in America places Asheville, Hickory and Wilmington in the "bad" column.

"A CNN website rating 330 cities across the country shows Wilmington is a bad deal for real estate, ranked 15th on the list," says WECT.

[Click here to see America's most overvalued cities]

While the study may or may not be accurate, experts agree that when you look into the details of how the research was compiled, you can see why Wilmington is near the top of the list.

Economist Dr. William Hall says bad loans are to blame, but also believes things are improving.

"Things are not declining as much as they have in the past," said Hall. "In fact, sales have may in fact stabilize, or beginning to increase. I'm not so sure prices have reached their low point but they are close to it."

The good news -- from the state's standpoint -- is a number of N.C. cities are on the undervalued list. Among those are Burlington, Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville, Raleigh, Rocky Mount and Winston-Salem.

Quick hits: 'Blood Done Sign My Name' opens, and UNCG talks drug school

Movie version of 'Blood Done Sign May Name' opens
"A movie about the killing of a black man in 1970 in North Carolina and the trial that resulted in the acquittals of white men is opening nationally," says the AP.

" 'Blood Done Sign My Name' opens on Friday on screens in large cities, but also in several North Carolina cities, including Charlotte and Raleigh. The movie is based on the memoir of the same name by Tim Tyson, a Duke University professor who grew up in Oxford during the time of the shooting and trial.

"Screenwriter Jeb Stuart, who directed 'Blood,' is best known for writing action films such as 'Die Hard' and 'The Fugitive.' The movie was filmed in North Carolina, mostly in Monroe and Shelby, and stars Nate Parker and Rick Schroder. ..."

IMDB.com

UNCG's proposed pharmacy school gains attention

"After a year of gathering dust in Chapel Hill, UNCG’s proposal for a pharmacy school is finally getting some attention," says the News & Record.

"David Perrin, UNCG’s executive vice chancellor and provost, told the UNCG Board of Trustees on Thursday that a team of consultants will visit the university March 5 to review the proposal. All are from outside the state and are either current or former pharmacy school deans.

"The consultants will report their findings to UNC system officials. UNCG administrators said they expect their request to be placed on the Board of Governors’ April agenda. ..."

From Raleigh to Charlotte in an hour

I had what I called the "absolute" pleasure two Octobers ago to take the Amtrak from Raleigh to Charlotte for a meeting. It was a trip that "did nothing but reinforce my belief that trains should be highly invested in as a critical mass transit option --whether for intra- or intercity travel." The trip took roughly the same amount of time as it would have if I had driven, except I was able to read a book, sleep or just enjoy the scenery.

Well, thanks to federal funding, that Raleigh-to-Charlotte trip could take about an hour. Nice.

"Uncle Sam is betting $520 million you’ll think twice about driving to Charlotte or Raleigh if a train can get you there in an hour," says the News & Record.

"That’s how much stimulus money the federal government gave North Carolina recently for the Raleigh-to-Charlotte run, with Triad stops in Greensboro, Burlington and High Point.

The award covers enough work to make high-speed rail a reality in the Central Piedmont in four or five years, said Gene Conti, state secretary of transportation.

“On the Raleigh-to-Charlotte connection, we’re going to be in good shape to get our average speed up to 90 mph, where we’re averaging just over 50 mph now,” Conti said. “Going from that to 90 mph is huge.”

The aim of high-speed rail at the regional level is curbing highway congestion and pollution, primarily by getting commuters off the roads.

“High-speed rail will provide business and leisure travelers with a competitive option to car or air travel for distances of 100 to 500 miles,” said Joan Bagherpour of North Carolina’s rail program. ...

The route belongs to the national Southeast High Speed Rail corridor, which eventually could extend from Washington through Atlanta. The larger route won a total of $620 million in stimulus money for work in both Virginia and the Tar Heel State.

North Carolina’s piece of the larger award was $545 million, but $25 million is earmarked for the route from Raleigh to Richmond. That route is not as close to completion as Charlotte-to-Raleigh.

“For the Raleigh-to-Charlotte (leg), we got pretty much everything we asked for,” Conti said of the $520 million.

So, before long, you can sit back and enjoy the ride. But don't get too comfortable -- you'll be at your destination before you know it.

N.C.-originated Carlyle to close

The signs are up at Carlyle & Co., the jewelry store chain that started in Greensboro in the 1920s: its days are numbered.

The restructuring firm that owns Carlyle & Co. Jewelers will close all 34 of the high-end stores in 10 states, including three in the Triad [says the News & Record].

The move will end an enterprise that had its beginning with a single store in Greensboro in 1922 .

Employees of what was once a family-operated chain with more than $100 million in annual sales said they had seen the end coming after the onset of the recession.

This is a sad thing to see. My sister once worked at a Carlyle in Greenville and still has fond memories of it. I bought my wife's engagement ring there; we'll have to find somewhere else to get it cleaned from now on, I reckon. We've even become friends with folks who work there.

And while I always hated the fact that this company sponsored an all-sports trophy between UNC and Duke (choosing to leave out N.C. State, Wake Forest and other N.C. schools and/or believing that people actually care about such a thing), I am still sad to see this most North Carolina of companies close.

Hoops notes: UNC most valuable team, NCAAs begin today

The North Carolina Tar Heels are the most valuable college basketball team in America, according to Forbes.

"The Heels generate nearly $26 million for the university, including $16.4 million in operating revenue, making the university one of the few in the nation that make more money from basketball than football, according to the story," writes the News & Observer.

The Duke Blue Devils rank eighth, while N.C. State and Wake Forest tied for 18th among the top 20 teams.

Go Tobacco Road!

The NCAA men's basketball tournament gets under way today. (Click here for the schedule.) The Tar Heels take on Radford at around 2:50 in Greensboro. The Blue Devils will take on Binghamton in Greensboro tonight around 9:40. Wake will take on Cleveland State tomorrow at around the same time.

(Speaking of Greensboro, former Clemson and current Texas coach Rick Barnes, a Hickory native, says he regrets his row with former UNC coach Dean Smith a dozen years ago or so.)

Other ACC teams in the tournament include Maryland, Boston College, Florida State and Clemson.

Oh, in case you haven't heard, the President has picked "N.C." to win it all.

Greensboro may host U.S. Figure Skating Championships in a couple of years

There's a report out there that the city of Greensboro has been chosen to hos the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 2011, "an event that could bring $30 million to the area, according to WFMY-TV in Greensboro.

"The city was expected to make the announcement Wednesday. Kansas City, Mo., was the other finalist to host the event.

"About 34,000 people could fill the Greensboro Coliseum to see the championships. ..."

Greensboro/High Point among the 'emptiest' metros in America, says Forbes.com

A report by Forbes.com ranked Greensboro/High Point as the fourth-emptiest city based on vacancy rates collected from the U.S. Census Bureau for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Only Las Vegas, Detroit and Atlanta ranked "higher" than Greensboro/High Point, says the New & Record. The N.C. metro area edged Dayton, Ohio.

Forbes blamed the declines in Detroit and Dayton on industrial shutdowns, and placed Las Vegas' problems on the housing bust.

The report did not elaborate on how Greensboro/High Point landed fourth on the list.

But Keith Debbage, a UNCG geography professor who studies the city's economic health, says that those cities' circumstances are exactly what separates them from Greensboro.

"Yes, our region is suffering, as is the nation, but I would suggest we are no Detroit or Dayton nor have we had the speculative real estate bubble of Las Vegas or Orlando," Debbage said by e-mail Monday.

"I suspect if we examined the data over a longer period (instead of just one quarter), the rankings would shift dramatically particularly for Greensboro." ...

The Census information listed those rates for the country's 75 largest metropolitan areas. Atlanta, Detroit and Las Vegas are all in the top 30 largest metropolitan areas with at least 1.8 million people in each. The Greensboro-High Point area is 72nd in total population with slightly less than 700,000 people.

For comparison, Greensboro was second in homeowner vacancies with 5.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008. Raleigh ranked 13th highest; Charlotte ranked 28th. As far as rentals go, the Gate City was 13th at 15 percent vacancy. Charlotte was 15th and Raleigh was 33rd. Richmond, Va., was highest in rental vacancies at 23 percent in the fourth quarter. Orlando, Fla., with 7.3 percent vacancies among homeowners, was highest in that category.

Thoughts on this information? Personally, I've heard so much positive "buzz" about Greensboro over the past five years that I can't imagine that it won't survive the economic crisis -- just as most people expect Raleigh and Charlotte to. And secondly, do these factors of vacancies really mean anything? Is a city's success or survival really being measured?

This just in: N.C. has a connection to tobacco

Greensboro is fourth "smokiest" city in America, according to a report. Wilmington came in at No. 7, and Hickory came in at No. 10.

"Earlier this month, U.S. News & World Report published a list of metro areas with the most smokers as a percentage of population," says the Star-News.

"The rankings, which came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s health risk data, showed the Wilmington metro area, which covers New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties, in the No. 7 spot, tying with the Chattanooga, Tenn. area.

"Nearly 27 percent of adults in the Wilmington area said they smoked in the CDC survey."

Oddly enough, Durham -- which was built on tobacco -- ranked as the fifth-lowest city for smoking, with just 12 percent its residents saying they smoke.

"The Huntington, W. Va. area topped the list of 161 metro areas included in the survey, with more than 34 percent of its adult residents smoking. In comparison, only 7 percent of residents in the Provo, Utah area reported they smoked.

" 'I think the fact that we have North Carolina ranking that high means that we do really need to take action in the state,' State Health Director Leah Devlin said by phone Monday. 'Those statistics represent real people.' ..."

More on Decision '08: Krispy Kreme vs. Dunkin' Donuts

To me the decision is an easy one. When it comes down to doughnuts, the one -- and ONLY -- choice is Krispy Kreme.

But Dunkin' Donuts recently announced its decision to follow Barack Obama's route by actually challenging long-held supremacy in North Carolina. Dunkin' is battling Krispy Kreme -- a North Carolina staple -- on its own turf.

(Be sure to vote in our poll, to the right.)

Now, I will concede that DD has better coffee than KK. But that's like saying Papa Johns has better bread sticks than Pizza Hut. ("That's all well and good, but I'm more interested in the pizza!")
Greensboro News & Record columnist Lorraine Ahearn studies this highly-flammable subject today.

"Face it. Reporters are only human.

"And at a historic moment such as this, it's hard not to be swayed. Even the most hard-bitten and objective can stumble, succumbing to a bias that alienates us from the office coffee klatch, the after-church bake sale, even from our own breakfast nook.

"After all, this comes down to age and experience versus youthful optimism. In one corner, gravity, a track record and a promise of substance; in the other, lightness, resilience and buoyancy. When neither camp takes the low road, but instead offers a smorgasbord of possibilities, this is not an easy choice.

"But I confess. After one sample swig of Dunkin' Donuts Cocoanut Roast coffee at the West Wendover store opening Thursday, I'm rethinking my allegiance to Krispy Kreme. ..."

You're dead to me, Lorraine.

Greening of Greensboro one of 50 reasons to love the U.S.

Travel + Leisure has listed the "greening" of Greensboro as one of 50 reasons to love the United States of America.

"Luxury and green don’t have to be mutually exclusive, as the Proximity Hotel in North Carolina is out to prove," says the publication. "This 147-room hotel has made so many energy enhancements (solar panels on the roof that heat the showers, for example) that it’s aiming to become the country’s first-ever building with a Platinum rating from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)."

Click here for the rest of the state-by-state guide.

Clooney, Zellweger to promote movie in N.C.

"The Facts of Life" aside, George Clooney typically doesn't do bad projects. So I'm giving "Leatherheads" the benefit of the doubt.

The movie, about an early-20th century football team, was filmed in Greensboro, Salisbury and other parts of the Carolinas, opens April 14. Clooney, along with co-star Renee Zellweger, will sally forth to the "Old North State" to promote the film.

The Charlotte Observer reported Tuesday that Clooney, who directed and stars in the movie, and Zellweger will be in Salisbury on March 26 and in Greenville, S.C., the next day.

"In Salisbury, Clooney and Zellweger will appear about 11 a.m. at the Historic Salisbury Station as part of what they're calling the 'Whistle Stop Express.' In Greenville, S.C., they'll appear about 11 a.m. at The Westin Poinsett Hotel," says the Greensboro News & Record.

Quick hits: N.C. primary update & luring the Final Four

Bill seeks earlier N.C. primaries
"By the time North Carolinians vote in next year's presidential primary, the races in each party will have long been determined," writes the Charlotte Observer.

"That's why some state legislators want to move the 2008 primaries, now scheduled for May, to Feb. 5. That's the date at least 20 other states are considering as an option for their primaries, a de facto national primary day that likely would decide the nominees.

"Candidates usually only stop in North Carolina to refuel their checkbooks on their way to early primary states, such as South Carolina. Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, for example, visits Charlotte for a fundraiser on Friday. Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York comes April 2.

"On Thursday, a state Senate committee is expected to start debate on a bill to move up the N.C. presidential primaries.

" '(Candidates) come here to raise money,' said state Sen. Andrew Brock, R-Davie, who introduced the bill. 'We can wave to them as they go down the street to the fundraiser, and we can wave to them again as they go to the plane to Iowa and New Hampshire.' ..."

Greensboro seeks 2012 Final Four
"The reviews are in, and by all accounts, Greensboro knows how to throw a basketball party," writes the News & Record.

"The ACC Women's Tournament final Sunday between North Carolina and N.C. State was sold out for the fifth straight year in Greensboro. And for the eighth straight year, the tournament set an attendance record with 69,159 fans showing up.

"But the party's only getting started. Many of those fans will be back in three weeks when the NCAA women's regional tournament rolls into town. And both the ACC and NCAA women will be back at the Greensboro Coliseum next year.

"So now that Greensboro has proven its love for women's basketball, the question is: What's next?

"The short answer: Nothing, for now.

"But city officials are hoping to parlay all this basketball madness into something bigger: the women's Final Four in 2012. ..."