Stories
U-Haul from the North Pole
I grew up way out in northern Durham County. It is not as far now that Duke Street is no longer a winding two lane road connecting Northgate Mall to Roxboro. But back in the 1960s, it was considered "way out". I-85 was just over a decade old. And with the anticipation of Christmas, it seemed even farther.
Back then, retail Christmas would not start until December. Northgate, being the closest shopping area, is where you would find us. We would go to the bottom of Kerr Drugs and, just barely able to see above the table, watch the "conductor" operate the biggest model train to be found. It was great for parents just to run all the kids to the basement and have time to shop and visit. And great for us, not to be bored with shopping. But the coolest thing ever was Santa Claus.
After Thanksgiving, we would always watch the Northgate Mall parking lot until we saw the U-Haul pull behind come into town and park between Kerr Drugs and the Colonial Store. This was Santa's sleigh hooked to the back of a pickup truck. Then the first night, we would return to stand in a long line winding down the sidewalk to step up on the cement block and climb into the back of the U-Haul. It was all strung with Christmas lights, small trees and red carpet. And of course, sitting at the back of the trailer, was the man himself. I remember it looked like a dream world inside. Wrapped boxes with bows would be stacked all around. The best part was that it was so small, we had to go one at a time. This way no other copycat kid would steal my idea for something cool, most of which would find its way to show and tell at Holt Elementary School.
Santa Claus at Northgate
I too grew up in north Durham and went to see Santa in the parking lot of Northgate Mall back in the 60's. I don't remember much about Kerr Drugs or the Colonial Store, but I do remember Roses. Every year I would go see Santa in his "house" outside Roses. Before I would wait in the long line, my Mom would take me inside and by me a long thin bag of freshly popped popcorn. I would eat it until my lips were chapped and bright red!
Once while visiting Roses, I became separated from my mother. Being the "grown up" little girl that I was, I went to the front and told the manager that I had lost my mother. He asked me to describe her. My beautiful mother had dark hair as a young woman, but was begining to gray prematurely. My answer to him was "She has black and white hair with a white puff in the middle." When he announced over the loudspeaker that he had someone's child and my mother came forward to get me, she was more than a bit embarrassed when he explained to her the description that I gave.
I made many trips to Roses in my childhood. I am sure my mother was less excited about making that trip after that day.
Christmas at Northgate
Before moving out to northern suburbia, we lived very close to Northgate. As a young child, my world started and ended with Christmas. I'll never forget one year, everytime we went to see Santa, he was out feeding his reindeer. One day I looked at my Mom and said, "Those must be some hungry reindeer because Santa is always feeding them". Sooner or later I'd get to sit on the fat man's lap and tell him what I wanted. Rose's was my focal point for shopping back then. Those memories will go to the grave with me, and I'm glad to have grown up in that time and place.
Barbara Beard
Atlanta, GA
Ruby Tuesday
I lived in Florida in November of 1990 and took my vacation from my company to come to North Carolina and work on the 1990 election. A friend from Florida told me that while I was here, to go by Ruby Tuesday at Northgate Mall and introduce myself to a couple of her friends. I was in Durham a few weeks, so the night after the election, even though I was absolutely exhausted and did not feel like being social, a few of us that worked on the campaign went there for dinner.
One of her friends, John, waited on us and the other, Keith, stopped by our table. And that was the beginning of our lifelong friendship. Later, I met Andy, Jennie Mac and a few more people. A few months later, I was offered a job in Chapel Hill and moved to the area and within the year, we all shared a house.
Over the past 18 years, we have travelled all over the world. We have backpacked trails in Northern Thailand and spelunked caves in Montana. We have swum in the Keys, watched Old Faithful shoot and dined in Coconut Grove. We have loved and laughed, birthed and buried, shared our lives and families, supported one another and grown up together through good times and hard times.
How my life would have turned out so differently if I had not gone to dinner that night. I write this as a testament to our lifelong friendship.
Living History for Northgate Mall
Durham, NC 27701
