What does 32,000 square feet look like? Stretch your arms out behind you and make ‘em touch. It’s big, baby.
We traveled to Linbrook Hall on Thursday night. I’m on the UNCG alumni association board, which was hosting a gathering of alums, a sort of meet and greet. The association does several of these a year. I missed the first in the Pinehurst area last month before our board retreat because we couldn’t get away from work in time (of course) to drop the kids off with Susan’s mom and make it.
But we were bound and determined to make this one.
I was still a little nervous riding all that way down to Randolph County to get to the big house. Of course, we got away late for work so we were hoofin’ it to get to the fete. Once we passed through Asheboro, I started cracking really stupid jokes to loosen up.
We thought we’d never get there. Willy Wonka said it best: “The suspense is killing me. I hope it lasts.” At one point on a winding back road, I saw a fence and I knew we must be close. We drove and drove and finally saw and opening … It was a junk yard. We had a good chuckle.
When we got to the gate and passed through, it took us about a half mile through woods until we saw a clearing. We ended up at the bottom of a hill and once we cleared the trees, the house, well mance, loomed large atop the hill with a beautiful fountain beckoning.
We got to the top of the hill and luckily we weren’t the last to arrive. But what sealed the deal and made both of us comfortable was a familiar face welcoming those arriving, the PR director at UNCG, whom Susan has known since she moved to Greensboro, Steve Gillam. He helped her out of the car and I parked very close to the entrance. There were several more people we knew, which really put us at ease. The wine helped, too.
It was a blast walking through the house. The highlight for me was the 12-seat movie theater under the guest wing, boasting reclining leather chairs softer than a baby’s bottom.
Later in the evening, Susan and I debated whether we could live there. She couldn’t. “Too anticeptic” she said. Too far from anything. Me? I’m there. No worries. Also, one observation that I still haven’t reconciled: I was the only black male there that evening. I was greatly outnumbered by black females, which included the help.
The Neals (Jerry Neal is VP of RF Micro) weren’t there. Their daughter, a UNCG grad, hosted.
Susan’s going to write more about the evening. I should be sleeping right now. Big weekend. We’ve got to help our new 4-year-old celebrate.
4 Comments
Herb,
I’m sure that Linda and Jerry Neal will be happy to know that you enjoyed your visit to Linbrook Hall. I feel obligated to point out a few things. Linbrook Hall was built for charitable purposes to give back to the community in which Jerry’s family has lived for many generations.
The Neals are devout Quakers and they particularly want to use Linbrook for two charities in which they are deeply involved, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Victory Junction Gang Camp for gravely ill children. The Neals intend to leave the house to charity. They don’t live there.
They made the house available to UNCG at no charge, as they have done, and continue to do, for other groups. Any help that you saw at the event was provided by UNCG. Linbrook Hall has no staff.
The reason that you saw so few black faces at the event may have a simple explanation. It was for Randolph County alumni of UNCG. The black population of Randolph County is about 10%. The number of black UNCG graduates from Randolph County probably is relatively small. I’m certain that UNCG is working to increase those numbers.
By the way, if you came through Asheboro to reach Linbrook Hall you came the long, but scenic way. The faster and easier way from Greensboro is by I-85. I’m sure that Jerry and Linda would love to have you back sometime when they can be there.
Jerry Bledsoe
Jerry,
I wish I had a chance to meet the Neals. Their daughter was there and was very gracious. And it was obvious by the immaculate condition of the house that no one lives there on a regular basis, especially someone with young kids.
There were a number of people there from Greensboro because of the proximity, one of the reasons we could make it. It was a similar situation to the event in Mid Pines.
If you see them any time soon, tell them I wouldn’t mind house sitting for them anytime.
Oh, and tell them a popcorn machine and soda fountain (diet only, of course) in the theater would be a nice touch, too.
All the houses we visit for these events are provided free, I’m pretty sure.
As far as the help, the girls may have been UNCG students, as far as I could tell. There was one other UNCG student, a black female, and some other guests, all black females. I was lamenting the fact that I was the only black male in the bunch and I KNOW there are more than just me who graduated from UNCG and who go there now. They should have gotten their butts down there for the festivities — and to donate to the school.
I’m pretty sure that the lot on which my
present house stands is not 32,000 sq ft.
I must be doing something wrong.
Herb,
I am the Architect of Linbrook Hall. I assure you that it was designed for the purposes Jerry Bledsoe described.
I have not many people as thoughtful, caring, and generous as Linda and Jerry Neal. It is an honor to know them.
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Jerry and RF Micro gives back? Or do they?
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