Greensboro, NC – The Greensboro Farmers Curb Market, 501 Yanceyville Street, will be celebrating Veteran’s Day during the Wednesday market on November the 11th 9am to 12 noon.
Veterans are invited to join the mid-week market with a complimentary sweet treat baked by market vendor Cookie Gurlie. The event serves as an opportunity for veterans to participate in the history project, Sharing Stories. Led by Libby Clark, Sharing Stories is her Capstone Project to complete her MA in History at UNCG. Libby will interview veterans from 9 am until 12 noon to record stories of those who may want to share about their connections with the historic Armory… which is now the curb market.
The Market’s Past as an Armory
Libby Clark has been researching the history of the market, established in 1874 and the current site where the market operates. According to this research, about 85 years ago this building looked vastly different from what you see now. Built in 1930, this building was just brick and concrete, and in 1931 was deeded to the city of Greensboro. At this time the National Guard took over the building and made it a revered armory within the state of North Carolina. The armory housed battery D, 2nd battalion of the 252nd Coast Artillery Regiment, which was commanded by Major Ralph L. Lewis in the 1940’s. As the United States was becoming a presence in World War II, the regiment in Greensboro was gearing up to leave for training and would eventually head to South Carolina in the fall of 1940 and join their place among other military members.
As a response to a concern over national security, the state of North Carolina organized the North Carolina State Guard in February of 1941. The state guard replaced the National Guard, since they no longer held a presence in the state. These men were North Carolina natives and participation in the State Guard was voluntary. Their duties included offering state support when called upon, as well as being available locally and regionally for issues that required more man power. At the guard’s creation, there was not much need to have these men militarized and ready for combat. However, when Pearl Harbor was bombed, the function of the state guard changed. No longer, were the state guards looked at as back up to the National Guard, but they quickly became the nation’s first line of defense on the home front.
The Guard was housed in the Armory on Bagley (now, Yanceyville) for a number of years after World War II, and in 1962 plans were made to move the National Guard to a new location on Franklin Boulevard. The city was also making plans to move the Farmers Curb Market from Commerce Place to the old Armory building. Many of the men that were a part of National Guard and State Guard have frequented the Market and remained loyal patrons for many years. Just like the Farmers Curb Market, the building has its own unique history that adds to the uniqueness of this market’s story.