🧵 In Today’s Edition
1. The Historic Magnolia House is nearly 80 years old—and looking to the future.
2. The Agenda
3. What We’re Reading
More Than History
The Magnolia House opened in 1949 and was one of the few places Black travelers could rest due to Jim Crow-era segregation. It was listed in the Green Book from 1955-61 as one of the five hotels in Greensboro that were consistently safe places to stay. Traveling Black musicians, including legends like Louis Armstrong, James Brown, and Ray Charles, stayed there when in town.
Once the Civil Rights Act was passed and Black travelers had more freedom, the Magnolia House lost many of its visitors and closed in 1979.
But the house, and those who love it, are resilient.
In 1996, Sam Pass and his wife, Kimberly, bought the house and began nursing it back to health, starting renovations in 2007 and reopening the house to the public as a historic site in 2012.
“You don’t realize how much of a voice buildings have until you spend time with them,” said Natalie Pass-Miller, Pass’s daughter. Pass-Miller reopened Magnolia House as a fully operational bed and breakfast in 2022.
“As you get to know them and their history, it’s thinking through, well, how do you share their story, through design, art, education, creating this living museum so that the community and the world can experience it?” she said. “The entire story, and what it represented.”
Read the full story here.
— Gale Melcher
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Thanks for reading The Thread, a 3x week newsletter written by Greensboro editor Joe Killian and reporters Sayaka Matsuoka and Gale Melcher. Reach us with tips or ideas at greensboro@theassemblync.com.
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The Agenda
The City of Greensboro is hosting multiple community meetings this week, while Guilford County’s board of education hosts its regular monthly meeting and a High Point City Council committee meets to discuss finances. Take a look at what’s on the docket for this week.
City of Greensboro
City Council special meeting
Monday, December 8, at 2 p.m. @ Melvin Municipal Office Building in the Katie Dorsett Council Chambers, 300 W. Washington St.
The agenda will be posted here.
Community meeting regarding drinking water
Monday, December 8 at 6 p.m. @ East Market Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 101 W. Vandalia Road
For the past year, South Greensboro has been dealing with brown water, which the city says is due to elevated levels of iron and manganese. This evening, city officials will be available to update the community on what’s next. Discussion topics will include highlights of the department’s water quality report, updates on the city’s current flushing program, complaints received, and the introduction of an advisory committee. The last community meeting on this topic was in September.
Greensboro Transportation Advisory Commission (GTAC) meeting
Tuesday, December 9, at 6 p.m. @ Transit Department, Greensboro Transit Agency administrative offices/maintenance facility, 223 W. Meadowview Rd.
This is GTAC’s monthly meeting. For past meeting agendas and minutes, go here.
Greensboro Transit Agency Rider Public Information meeting
Wednesday, December 10, at 2 p.m. @ The J. Douglas Galyon Depot, 236 East Washington St.
The purpose of this quarterly meeting is for the city to share information on transit service operations and receive feedback from its riders. It’ll be held in the public meeting room of the GTA Customer Service area at the bus depot. Reach out to the city for Zoom access if you can’t make the meeting in person.
Historic Preservation Commission meeting
Wednesday, December 10, at 4 p.m. @ Plaza Level Conference Room, Melvin Municipal Office Building, 300 W. Washington St.
This month’s meeting includes proposed changes to six homes in the College Hill, Fisher Park, and Dunleath neighborhoods, as well as staff reports on the proposed Greensboro Historic Marker program and the 2026 Preservation Greensboro, Inc. Tour of Historic Homes.
Human Rights Department Community Roundtable
Wednesday, December 10, at 6 p.m. @ Barber Park Event Center, 1502 Barber Park Drive
The Mosaic Awards, recognizing individuals and organizations (including city staff) for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, will be presented during this meeting. It can be attended via Zoom.
Guilford County
Board of Education meeting
Tuesday, December 9, at 6 p.m. @ The Community Education Center, in the Assembly Room on the second floor, 2703 E. Florida St.
This meeting’s agenda includes:
- Contracts for roof replacement at Northeast Guilford High School
- School resource officer contracts with the Greensboro Police Department, High Point Police Department, and Guilford County Sheriff’s Office.
- The board’s policy committee’s report
- Taking action on a new policy regarding substitutes
City of High Point
City Council Finance Committee meeting
Thursday, December 11, at 4 p.m. @ 211 S. Hamilton St.
The agenda will be posted here.
Links to local board meetings and agendas:
Guilford County – Board of Commissioners
Guilford County – Board of Education
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What We’re Reading
Requiem for a Cafeteria: Last week, the K&W Cafeteria chain announced it would close its remaining locations. People are mourning the old-school Triad staple and telling their stories around it, The News & Record reports.
Raising a White Flag: The city of Greensboro will activate White Flag warming centers through the weekend in response to the overnight low temperatures. WXII has the details on where and when the warming centers will be available.
How We Gonna Pay The Rent: The outgoing Greensboro City Council removed the ability of one of the city’s commissions to study rising rents and inspect apartments. Yes! Weekly has a look at how the decision was made and how council members justify it amid growing housing concerns.
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