WITW: The Friday reveal
Looks like I stumped you. The Monday picture was of the Southeastern Building at the corner of North Elm and East Market streets:
Here's another shot from the East Market side:
The building, which turns 90 next year, was once Greensboro's tallest. It's empty now and awaiting a major makeover that might or might not come about, depending on financing, the economy and some other factors.
I went upstairs just once, and my impression was that Guy Noir would have been right at home there.
I do miss the diner downstairs. It was the only place downtown where you can get a meat and three, and BBQ Thursdays with Stan Swofford and Jim Schlosser was the high point of my week.
Here's some history from a Schlosser story in 2005:
Known originally as the American National Bank Building, it went through several name changes before becoming Southeastern - for Southeastern Mortgage Co. - around 1940. The building arose in the early part of the 20th century, when downtown Greensboro was losing its small-town look and becoming a city. The city's emergence as a transportation hub and insurance center created demand for office space.
Through the years, the Southeastern boasted an illustrious tenant directory. The company that became Jefferson-Pilot Corp. had offices there.
Architect Harry Barton, who designed the old Guilford County Courthouse and many buildings on the UNCG campus, had his drawing board in the Southeastern, though another architect, Raleigh's James Hughes, designed the building.
One of the nation's largest banks traces its origins to the Southeastern. Security National was started there before moving to the Jefferson Building. In the 1960s, Security merged with a Charlotte bank to become North Carolina National Bank, which became NationsBank and now Bank of America.
For years, lawyers hung shingles in the Southeastern, and insurance agencies had offices there. The four-side clock of Wimbish Insurance decorated the front of the Southeastern and became a landmark for people to meet. Clifford Frazier is one of the few lawyers remaining in the Southeastern. His firm moved there in 1975.
And here are a couple of what's-next-for-the-Southeastern-Building stories from Don Patterson for you:
Former bank to get new life as apartments
Financing delays downtown projects
I'll be back on Monday with another WITW entry. Good weekend!
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