William Sydney Porter



I was excited to learn that William Sydney Porter was born in Greensboro in 1862. The son of a physician, he was only three when his mother died from tuberculosis. In that same year of 1865, the Civil War drew to a close and as a lad, he watched rioting taking place in the streets of Greensboro. Raised in his mother's former home with his dad and his grandmother, he received the opportunity to read everything available in print at the time. I knew that he had lived in Texas, where I was born, but I was surprised to learn that he had been a working hand on a ranch in south Texas. He played many roles throughout his life, but he will always be remembered as the prolific writer that he became. Master of the short story, he wrote stories of the common people whom he had lived with in all genre's of life. He loved the old dime western stories and he later wrote many of his own western stories that were flavored by his personal experiences. As a child I used to watch movies of the Cisco Kid and I had no idea that he had created the character in one of his short stories, "The Cabellero's Way". He eventually settled in New York City where he wrote many popular stories like "Full House" that shared the life of the ordinary person in the big city. He penned such classics as "The Gift of the Magi" there, which still remains a Christmas classic in contemporary times. His birth city honors him with streets and hotels named after him, but not by his real name. For you see, his pen name was O.Henry, and he was born in Greensboro, NC. You can learn of his works and see his life story portrayed at the Greensboro Historical Museum in the downtown area of the city.

                 Self Drawn Image                                                        Near his birth site in Greensboro

           

                              

               

Greensboro in the Civil War - April 11, 1865

A large concentration of Quaker pacificism caused Greensboro to relunctantly follow the rest of North Carolina into the Confederacy in 1861. The city was not involved in any major conflicts throughout the duration of the war, but they manufactured carbine rifles and other supplies for the Confederacy.

A militia unit called the Greensboro Grays was formed and played a part in many important battles of the war. The city suffered like all of the South in shortages of food and supplies, but they also supplied food and munitions to the Confederate army. The railways in Greensboro were an important connection for Confederate troops and munitions being shuttled between battlefronts. As Lee was being surrounded near Appomattox courthouse at the crucial end of the war, General P.G.T. Beauregard was instructed by General Joseph E. Johnston, to prepare for a defense of the city. General Sherman and the Union army approached from the east. Though several battles were waged on the North Carolina coast, the last major battle fought in the war was near Goldsboro at Bentonville.The retreating Confederate army under General Johnston was hard pressed on a line between Greensboro and Raleigh. As Lee's army tried to escape to the west, Jefferson Davis and the remaining members of the Confederate cabinet fled and met in Danville, VA.

When Union General Sheridan threatened Danville, Davis and his cabinet slipped away by train to Greensboro on April 11, 1865. Davis tried to find lodging but everyone was afraid to offer help, as the Union armies converged from the north and the east. Finally he was offered the use of a tiny upper room on S Elm St, but most of the cabinet slept in a traincar. With news of Lee's surrender and the imminent defeat of the Confederacy, the city closed up, as rioters and pillagers ransacked local stores and warehouses. On April 11-13, 1865, Greensboro was the de facto "final" capital city of the Confederacy as the cabinet met in a railcar at the downtown depot. On the 16th, Davis fled south through Jamestown and High Point on a long trek that would lead to his capture in southern Georgia. Final surrender negotiations were completed between General Johnston and General Sherman at Bennett Place, a farm near Durham.

On April 26, 1865, the American Civil War literally ended in Greensboro as Confederate soldiers stacked their arms and received their paroles. I bet you didn't know that; capital of the Confederacy, and end of the Civil War, right here in Greensboro.

Revolutionary War or Civil War?

Though some residents are confused about which war it was, most North Carolinians know that the famous battle for Guilford Courthouse was fought in what is now NW Greensboro in 1781. Everyone knows that it was one of the most crucial battles of the Revolutionary War with Britain. Didn't know that? The cunning and tenacity of this battle "broke the back" of the mighty British army as they attempted to swashbukle through the southern colonies and punish the American army. In fact, General Cornwallis won the battle, but his army was bruised and very nearly destroyed in the process. So effectively did General Nathaneal Greene oppose him, that Cornwallis's army never recovered from the battle scars. His army limped out of North Carolina and found refuge on the Virginia coastline where General Washington joined up with General Greene and bottled up Cornwallis until he surrendered and ended the Revolutionary War. After the battle, Cornwallis said of the American Army, "I never saw such fighting since God made me, the Americans fought like Demons!"
The Guilford Courthouse National Military Park is built on the very grounds of the battlefied and it is a wonderful way to discover the full significance of the major conflict during the Revolutionary War in America.

Though there were no major battles fought in Greensboro during the Civil War, the city played an important role in the outcome of the war. Bet you can't wait to hear about that.

Gate City Grasshoppers

Greensboro has one of the finest minor league ball parks in the country. The class 1-A Minor League team has been in the Florida Marlin farm system since 2003. The NewBridge Bank Park was opened in 2005 with a seating capacity of almost 7500 fans, and on special nights, it is a full house.

I can tell you from personal experience that it is a great time to go out to the ballpark and enjoy a spring or summer evening. It's fun to watch them play the Hickory Crawdads or the Lakewood Blue Claws or if you are really lucky, you might even get to see the Savannah Sand Gnats. No matter who plays, it's a fun time and a lot of baseball to watch. Kids have loads of entertainment between innings and adults have plenty of choices for food, snacks and drinks. Many businesses, churches and organizations take advantage of group rates and share a great time.

During the summer months they shoot off a fireworks display that rivals or exceeds the local Fourth of July celebration. They play a full schedule with lots of home games to choose from. Lets go out to the ball game, a whole new season of the Grasshoppers is here and waiting for our enjoyment. See you there!

Education at the Highest Levels

Greensboro has long been noted for higher educational opportunities. In 1837, the Quaker (Friends) church founded the original Guilford College on a tract of land near the birthplace of Dolley Madison (wife of President James Madison.) Today the school has a  population of about 2700 students enrolled in their various liberal arts curriculum. There are five academic divisions—arts; business, policy and sport studies; humanities; natural sciences and mathematics; and social sciences – and an interdisciplinary program.

Greensboro College originated as an all girls school, but has successfully transaitioned into a liberal arts college with undergraduate and gradute degrees available. Average enrollment is around 1200 students at all levels.The University of North Carolina in Greensboro, UNCG is by far the largest university in Greensboro with a total enrollment exceeding 18,000.

 Undergraduate studies include the full gamet of liberal arts studies within the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Bryan School of Business, School of Education, School of Health and Human Services, School of Music, Theater and Dance, School of Nursing and the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering.

Bennett College for Women is the smallest University in Greensboro but it has a rich history of providing a quality education. The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University (NC A&T University ) provides graduate and undergraduate degrees with a world renown reputation in their various colleges.The Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Engineering as well  as the Schools of Agriculture and Environmental Services, Business & Economics, Education, Nursing, Technology and The Joint School of Nanoscience & Nanoengineering have a rich history of success.Current enrollment is around 3,000 students.
If you or someone you love is in need of a higher education, Greensboro  is the place to get it! Give us a quick look for more information about the city and affordable living opportunities in the area.

How the Gate City got it's name

In the 19th century, the railroad network of lines was being formed across America. Because of it's location, Greensboro became the central hub for trains moving from Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina and the North Carolina Coast. During the Civil War, Trainloads of troops , munitions and supplies were shipped through the Greensboro hub. In most cases, trains were routed to Greensboro, switched to the appropriate destination track, and then  sent on to it's final destination. Therefore it came to be known as the gateway to get anywhere else. This continued throughout the latter part of the 19th century and into the 20th century and it contributed greatly to the city's value. The textile industry manufactured clothing that was easily loaded and shipped to all points from the central gate of Greensboro. Somewhere along the way, the city became known as the "Gate City".

Today the Guilford County population is over 700,000 and the city sets at the intersection of interstate highways I40 and I85. Welcome to our thriving beautiful city with it's rich and colorful history. We welcome your search for additional information.

It's Greensboro, not Greenesboro

Greensboro NC was alledgely named after the Revolutionary war General, Nathaniel Greene, but anyone who lives here knows that it is literally one of the greenest cities in the country. Not just in relation to environmentalist, but in actually being a city filled with rolling grassy hills, giagantic trees and an outstanding display of flora. Especially in the spring, the Gate City of Greensboro transitions into an explosion of blooming trees, shrubs and flowers. The dafodils announce the eary spring and they are quickly followed by the forsythia and the graceful hanging wisteria that grows wild in the woods and hangs down from twenty foot limbs. Early April introduces the tulips, cherry blossoms, flowering dogwoods and the magnificent azaleas. Few cities can match the awesome spectacle of spring in the Piedmont Triad.

If you would like to know more about our beautiful city or you are interested in moving here, we have all the information you need to know.