City of Greensboro to hold celebration for South Benbow Road Historic District

A celebration will be held Saturday in Greensboro to commemorate the city's first historically Black neighborhood being added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The South Benbow Road area has been home to a number of Black figures over the year. This includes North Carolina's first Black chief justice, Henry Frye, and former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

The neighborhood is also characterized by mid-century modern homes and churches designed by Black professionals. Now, people will be able to learn more about the significance of this community.

Greensboro resident Eric Woodard spearheaded the effort to see the neighborhood added to the national register in December. He says it will ensure future generations can be inspired by the stories preserved.

"They see people like themselves who, in spite of all the obstacles that they faced, you know, during that time, they were able to succeed," Woodard says. "And I think that's an incredibly encouraging statement for any young person."

Woodard says honoring this history could also help to reshape the mindset around what some consider East Greensboro to be.

"There were great things happening then, and there are great things happening now," he says.

The celebration will start with a free program at 1 p.m. at Providence Baptist Church. A second program on the architecture and legacy of the community will take place at 3 p.m. at the Greensboro History Museum. Residents can also register to take a bus ride through the new historic district on Saturday.