So many people around Salisbury have supported the efforts to rehabilitate Shober Bridge----our thanks go out to them all.

We can support North Main Neighborhood this week as Arbor Day is celebrated there by the City of Salisbury. Read on for details.

The City of Salisbury Tree Board has selected the North Main Neighborhood for its 2010 Arbor Day Celebration! On Friday April 23rd at 12:00 noon, we welcome all to attend the lunch-time Arbor Day tree planting event in the two blocks of W. Miller Street between N. Main and N. Jackson Streets. The Haps Hot Dog Cart will be there to sell hot-dogs, drinks, and chips. The City will have pre-dug the holes for the flowering crab apple trees and will provide shovels, gloves, etc. for anyone who would like to participate. This is a great event for children so we hope you can come out! The City will receive a TREE CITY award at this event, and there will be guest speakers and other fun stuff! So please come join the fun - plant a tree - revitalize a neighborhood!

Friday April 23rd

11:30 ~ 1:30 PM

W. Miller Street Salisbury NC

See you there!

This Pace Matters

Put this date on your calendar: Friday, April 9, 2010
Where do you want to be?

Shober Bridge at the intersection of North Ellis Street and West Kerr
What time do you want to be there? 6:15

Here is the info you need: This Place Matters is part of a nationwide campaign for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Interested persons are asked to come to Shober Bridge next Friday, April 9, at 6:15 to have a picture made holding a banner proclaiming This Place Matters. Not only will this help get publicity out in our local area but this will make Shober Bridge nationally known. We would love to have a big crowd in the picture---standing on the bridge and off to the side at the intersection of W Kerr and N. Ellis. We want to get there, take the picture, then let everyone head out to enjoy the week-end.

We have permission to park at the homes of Pete and Debbie Hoffman at 416 West Kerr or William and Annie Shaw at 429 North Ellis.

You are encouraged to write letters to the Post supporting rehabilitation of the bridge. Information on points for consideration can be found at the Shober Bridge group on Yahoo. We also have a blog at

Have you signed the petition yet? That can be done at Historic Salisbury's website.

If you would like a yard sign, there are plenty at the Historic Salisbury office at the Depot.

For more information on the National Trust's campaign, please visit: http://www.preservationnation.org/take-action/this-place-matters/
For more information on Shober Bridge, please visit: www.shoberbridge.com

What do you know about Ellis Street School? Read on....

from: www.co.rowan.nc.us/GOVERNMENT/Departments/PublicLibrary/HistoryRoom/TheoBuerbaumsSalisbury/SalisburyGradedSchool/GradedSchoolandSuperintendentsResidence/tabid/546/Default.aspx

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Salisbury Graded School - Graded School and Superintendent's

Even though laws establishing public education were enacted in 1839, in Salisbury prior to the Civil War, there was little progress in public education. Following the war, public schools were established by the new state constitution in 1868, but the school year was only four months long. An article in the Carolina Watchman appearing on February 5, 1880, mentioned that there were around 175 pupils and school commissioners were making arrangements to build a suitable building. The mayor at that time, John A. Ramsay, led a movement to levy a property tax to address the growing need. The building was begun in the fall of 1881 on North Ellis Street. Mayor Ramsay, an architect by trade, and the Rev. Francis Murdoch were credited with the design. The school was a cruciform brick building in the Italianate style. In the early years, only nine grades were taught. An addition was built and connected to the old graded school in 1904. It contained a large auditorium, about a dozen classrooms, basement, and offices for the superintendent. On its opening, education through grade eleven was offered. Located at 314 North Ellis Street, the school later became the Frank B. John School an elementary school - grades 1-8. These photographs were taken around 1907, after the additions to the original school. The only part of this building that remains is the oldest part, which is used for administrative offices.

A neighborhood grew up around the school in the early 20th century. The style of architecture ranged from Queen Anne and Italianate to early twentieth century period revival houses as well as Craftsman bungalows. The district, known as the Ellis Street Graded School Historic District, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Historic Neighborhoods Alliance

DId you know Salisbury Historic Neighborhoods have their own organization? This umbrella group is one under which all the historic neighborhoods falls with each neighborhood having their own representation. Follow news from the HNA (Historic Neighborhoods Allisances) at www.thehna.blogspot.com

The Historic Neighborhoods Alliance has also added a blurb about the Shober Bridge in their blog.
See www.thehna.blogspot.com

Does anyone have any digital pictures of Shober Bridge which could be used by HNA on their blog?

Bridge and the neighborhood

Have you joined our Yahoo Group for Shober Bridge? Try following one of these links or goto Yahoo Groups and search for Shober Bridge. You do have to be approved as a group member.

shober_bridge@yahoogroups.com

groups.yahoo.com/group/shober_bridge/

Stay alert on activities happening with the bridge. Remember, this is not just about a bridge, but about the neighborhood. Do you want increased traffic of emergency vehicles and 18-wheelers? Think about how bottle-necked traffic can get at the intersection of North Ellis Street and West Innes (at Bank of America.) Imagine an emergency vehicle trying to get through that mess. Safety is an issue on all parts---the bridge and the neighborhood. Make your wishes known.

Bridge Meeting

Neighbors,

Tentatively, we would like to know who might be interested in attending a meeting on the proposed bridge changes on Tuesday, December 29, at 7:00 pm at the Depot. Would you please respond to Gwen Matthews if you can attend? Her phone is 704- 763-0465 and email is gwen2@carolina.rr.com.

We would like to have some people there who can speak for the community as well as listen to the proposed changes from Dan Mikkelson, representing the City of Salisbury.

Also, be sure to have the Jan. 5 meeting of City Council at 5:00 at City Hall on your calendar. We need to have a big crowd there.

December News

Hope this newsletter finds all of you in a festive spirit as the holidays are in full swing. Whatever your beliefs, your Ellis Street Graded School Historic District (ESGSHD) officers want to wish you a wonderful season.

This newsletter does contain very important information regarding our district. Please read on and give us input as well as your help.

Recently (Dec. 15) Gwen Matthews (co-president of ESGSHD) attended a Salisbury City Council meeting during which the future of the Ellis Street Bridge (Shober Bridge) was discussed. While this was publicized in the normal announcement of the meeting, the neighborhood was not notified of this item. (In the past, a folded piece of paper was mailed to residents announcing the meeting.)

There is a renewed effort to knock down the bridge... a bridge with historic value to the neighborhood as well as the city of Salisbury. Following the City Council meeting, Gwen asked Jack Thomson (Historic Salisbury Foundation) and Pete Hoffman (ESGSHD resident and local attorney) to work with her to develop a new plan. Additionally, Gwen and Andrea Anders (co-president of ESGSHD) sent the following letter to City Council:

Dear Council,

I was in attendance on Dec 15, 2009 when Mr. Dan Mikkelson gave his report to the Council concerning the future of Shober Bridge. I must say I was surprised by his report and have several concerns. The first and foremost objection is that as a member of Ellis St. Graded School Historic District and a property owner on N. Ellis Street I am very concerned about the Jan. 5th public hearing on this matter. With the holidays it will be difficult to get the information about the public hearing to the neighbors of this Historic Bridge.

As Co-President, along with Andrea Anders, of Ellis Street Graded School Historic District, we are asking the Council to postpone the Jan 5th meeting until the neighborhood has had an informational forum, hopefully Mr. Mikkelson would be willing to come, and present the different proposals pertaining to this neighborhood landmark. Information from Mr. Mikkelson’s report on Dec. 15, 2009 was different from information the city gave to the neighbors in 2006. We need an opportunity to study the impact on our neighborhood and our neighbors before we come to the City Council and present our concerns in a public hearing. Please grant us this opportunity to meet together as neighbors with reference to this very important matter.

Sincerely Yours;

Gwen Matthews

Andrea Anders

Co –Presidents of Ellis Street Graded School Historic District

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A prompt reply was sent by Dan Mikkelson:

Ms. Matthews,

I would be happy to meet with the neighborhood association

to explain all that I can about the bridge project. As you are aware

from my December 15 presentation to City Council, the City is being

forced to make a decision quickly. The January 5th Public Hearing has

already been advertised, so it would be appropriate for Council to

conduct the hearing; however, City Council will not necessarily make a

final decision that night.

I am available almost any time, except Sunday afternoon, December 27 and

Wednesday evening, December 30. Let me know time(s) that would work for

the association. Also, please forward my e-mail to Ms. Anders. I could

not obtain her e-mail address from the correspondence below.

Dan Mikkelson, Director

Engineering & Development Services

City of Salisbury

Phone: 704-638-5206

Fax: 704-638-8458

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Now, it is of utmost importance that we have neighbors in attendance at the City council meeting on Jan. 5, 2010. If you have any suggestions or input to the situation, please contact Gwen Matthews (gwen2@carolina.rr.com) or Pete Hoffman (attorneyhoffman@yahoo.com).

Previous designs changed the look of Ellis and Kerr Streets as well as the yards of neighbors nearest the bridge. The bridge, located directly beside the Ellis Street School (our namesake), is a major Salisbury landmark and one for which our neighborhood is known.

PLEASE make an effort to attend the Jan. 5 meeting of City Council. Notify neighbors who do not receive this newsletter. We will send a reminder to you of the meeting with any new information we are able to obtain.