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.

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 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

You know what gets me? The latest community information on RF Micro and Jerry Neal. I’m sure he’s a great guy and all and RF Micro has employed many in the Triad region. It’s even a chip maker, of which…