Wildlife Habitat

March 22, 2009 · By Deb Phillips – The Photo Gal 
Scene from wildlife habitat in Lewisville, North Carolina near Lewisville Elementary School (Forsyth County). Deb Phillips, photographer.

This scene was captured using a long lens with the aperture wide open, in order to blur the background. The exposure was set to create a silhouette of the bird and tree limb. Further manipulation to the digital file created the abstract look. The location is a small wildlife habitat in Lewisville, North Carolina near Lewisville Elementary School.

A Loving Tribute

Did you know that there’s a wildlife habitat in Lewisville? Although it was established 15 years ago, it had escaped my attention until a little over a year ago when our new library opened. The wildlife habitat is located on Lucy Lane, across from the library, tucked along the edge of a small wooded area.

The marker standing along the front of the habitat reads:

In memory of Jeanette E. Messick
The Jeanette E. Messick Wildlife Habitat
Dedicated 1994

I’m told that Jeanette Messick was a beloved teacher’s aide at Lewisville Elementary School who died of cancer. Her passing was such a loss to her students and colleagues that the wildlife habitat was established in her memory.

The small patch of land that makes up the wildlife habitat features birdhouses, birdbaths, benches, and a variety of plants, flowers and trees. Following the meandering pathway through the small habitat will take you over an attractive brick-lined bridge. Along the way, you’ll see some small statues of children and animals. Sadly, it appears that a sundial is missing, most likely due to vandalism.

Did You Know Jeanette Messick?

If you knew Ms. Messick and would like to share something special about her, feel free to do so by CLICKING on the Comment link below. I’d love to hear more about the lady who inspired the wildlife habitat.

Photo Gallery and Google Map

MORE PHOTOS of the Jeanette E. Messick Wildlife Habitat are available in the photo gallery. Plus, a GOOGLE MAP has been created to show you the exact location of the wildlife habitat. Simply CLICK the links below:

Photos: Jeanette E. Messick Wildlife Habitat Photo Gallery
Google Map: Jeanette E. Messick Wildlife Habitat Map

Update on 3/25/09: Jeanette Messick’s daughter, Susan Messick Luebchow, contacted me in response to this blog post. Susan clarified that the wildlife habitat was built by family and friends. Be sure to read Susan’s comments about her mother and the impact she had on so many.

Nissen Wagon Museum

March 14, 2009 · By Deb Phillips – The Photo Gal 
An original Nissen wagon is shown housed in the Nissen Wagon Museum at Shallowford Square in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County). Deb Phillips, photographer.

The Nissen Wagon Museum, a nicely designed structure located at Shallowford Square, houses an original Nissen wagon. The wagon was built by the Nissen Wagon Company, which was begun by John P. Nissen in 1834. John’s son, George E. Nissen, later co-owned the business with his brother, William, and lived in the historic Nissen House in Lewisville, North Carolina.

The Nissen Wagon

Continuing on our history journey today, we’ll focus on the Nissen wagon. I think it’s reasonable to assume that many a Nissen wagon traveled the Great Wagon Road and crossed the Shallow Ford between the 1800s and the early 1900s (CLICK the preceding links to read my previous posts).

After all, by 1919 Nissen Wagon Works, as it was later named, was producing over 15,000 wagons per year, or about fifty wagons per day. The business was located in Waughtown, North Carolina (in the present-day Winston-Salem) and was operated by various members of the Nissen family from 1834 until 1925, when it was sold to F. B. Reamy for about one million dollars. Under new ownership, Nissen wagons continued to be produced until the 1940s, when the popularity of automobiles eclipsed demand for the wagons. [Source: StoppingPoints.com]

For further information on the Nissen wagon and to see additional photos, please continue to the NEXT SECTION. CLICK for more on the Nissen wagon

One Bright Morning

March 2, 2009 · By Deb Phillips – The Photo Gal 
View of Westbend Vineyards on a clear winter day (Lewisville, North Carolina - Forsyth County). Deb Phillips, photographer.

A view of Westbend Vineyards in Lewisville, North Carolina on a clear winter day.

In the recent post titled Barren Beauty, I featured a photo of Westbend Vineyards from a not-so-typical viewpoint. Of course, in that shot, a tree in the foreground was the primary subject, and the old home place was off in the distance, barely visible. But for the above photo, I moved considerably closer, positioned not far from the small pond that’s below a section of the vineyards and the old home place.

For today’s post, I’ve created several alternative versions of this photo, some of which are radically different. In case you’re “allergic” to radically modified photos, I’ve also prepared a few more mild-mannered versions!

Please continue to the NEXT SECTION to check out the alternative photos. Wherever you fall on the photo spectrum, I hope you’ll find a photo that you particularly like. You may even prefer the above version. Caution: Some of the photos are really different! CLICK to see MORE PHOTOS

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    Lewisville citizens pose at the Nissen Wagon at Shallowford Square in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).Held at Shallowford Square, the First Annual Best of Lewisville Festival was sponsored by Karate International of Lewisville and MediaFit.West Side Civic Theatre sponsored The Pirates of Penzance at Shallowford Square in Lewisville, NC.The Old Cemetery at Shiloh Lutheran Church in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County). Photography by Deb Phillips.Shallowford Square with a beautiful covering of snow.Memorial Day Service by American Legion Post 522 in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County)The home of Dr. Joe and Barbara Brooks in Lewisville, NC is surrounded by beautiful flowers of all types, especially daylilies.James E. (Jim) Munden, Sr. spoke about The Great Depression to the Lewisville Historical Society in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).Brad Craver and his sons Austin and Andrew shared about the Civil War with the Lewisville Historical Society in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).The 4th Annual Yadkin Valley History Fair & Conference - Transportation in the Yadkin Valley Before the AutomobileLewisville celebrates its 25th year of incorporation” width=A redbird claimed his territory at the Veterans Memorial at Shallowford Square in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).The Lewisville Historical Society sponsored a graveyard tour which included Lewisville United Methodist Church. Host: Ruth HartleThe West Side Civic Theatre put on a splendid rendition of Peter Pan at Shallowford Square in Lewisville, NC.Llamas at Rivermont Llamas in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).The garden of Robin McBride in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County)The Lewisville Historical Society sponsored a Historic Graveyard Tour, including the graveyard at Lewisville Baptist Church.The West Side Civic Theatre produced the Hello, Dolly musical at Shallowford Square in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).A beautiful snow on a barn and field on Conrad Road in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).Sponsored by the Lewisville Historical Society, a graveyard tour was conducted of six graveyards in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).New Hope AME Zion Church in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County) celebrated its 125th anniversary on February 1, 2009.Jones Grocery Store resides on Shallowford Road in Lewisville, NC, not far from the Yadkin River (Forsyth County).A visit to Shallowford Square in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County) on a snowy morning.The Lewisville Sesquicentennial Committee and the Yadkin Valley Historical Association hosted an exploration of the Shallow Ford.Meet dog, Missy, who was walking with her master at Shallowford Square in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).Oklahoma! was produced by the West Side Civic Theatre at Shallowford Square in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).