Oakwood 40th Anniversary Celebration

Sometimes we felt overwhelmed, you know? It seemed hopeless, like we had made a foolish mistake. The City would have an article in the newspaper saying that the North-South freeway was really necessary for the revitalization of Raleigh. Our spirits would go up and down. For every three articles in our favor, there were three more in favor of the highway. – Barry & Nancy Poe

In this five-minute piece, which we played in Burning Coal on Friday, September 28, 2012, to celebrate stopping a North-South Expressway from destroying Raleigh’s downtown, nine voices of individuals are edited together to paint a picture of the setting, events and emotions of that time.

Those whose voices can be heard include Eric Ennis, Ronnie Ellis, Barry and Nancy Poe, Barbara Wishy, Betsy Buford, Randy Hester, Mamie Bridgers and Matthew Brown. Many more voices contributed to the early and later efforts in re-establishing Oakwood and surrounding areas as viable and thriving communities, and for that we are deeply grateful.

Thank you. This project’s for you.

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– See more photos at: http://oakwoodproject.org/oakwood-celebration/#sthash.hdqY7jMZ.dpuf

Oakwood 40th Anniversary Celebration, a set on Flickr.