Holly Springs Renaissance

Posted: February 1, 2007
Updated: February 2, 2007

Have you been to Holly Springs lately? All I can say is "Wow!" Yes, "Wow!" What a transformation from the sleepy little town I first came to know as a rookie radio reporter in the 1970's. Growth is one thing. Well managed growth is another. Holly Springs is a great example of smart growth, community spirit. and family focus.

The town is working hard to provide important amenties for its diverse population. One of the sweet new jewels is the Holly Springs Cultural Center. This destination for the arts, entertainment, and special events is located a block from Town Hall in the Downtown Village District of Holly Springs. As Director Bob Klaus puts it: "This state-of-the-art $5 million facility sits in the heart of a thriving community with a population of more than 150,000 within a ten mile radius. More than 300,000 visitors a year are expected."

I hope you will join me Saturday night February 10 at the Holly Springs Cultural Center for a concert with my musical group Lorica. Together we will celebrate the renaissance of this wonderful village. Along with the music I will share a special story of how my Scottish ancestor Archibald Leslie helped put Holly Springs on the map nearly 200 years ago. For more information call: (919) 567-4000 or www.etix.com

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My trip to Charlotte Posted: July 30, 2012

7 Comments

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sorry shane i misunderstood you..my bad.

romeopm
February 5, 2007 8:58 a.m.

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I'm not looking to start a war here. I just wanted the fans to be aware of the correct concert date and decided to inject a little humor, that's all. I'm sorry if I offended anyone, that was not my intent. See y'all at the show on Saturday!

Sharnac
February 5, 2007 8:13 a.m.

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shane, ive know mr. leslie for years and he is a well respected person.just because he made a little accident dont give you the right to dis him like that. sounds like to me you are still at the brewery.

romeopm
February 4, 2007 11:03 p.m.

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Holly Springs used to be a historically black town, which during segregation was a town mainly populated by the blacks who served the bedroom communities in Apex and who worked in Apex and Fuquay Varina. Gone are the days of selling $1 shots out back doors of houses, gone are the days of bear-rasslin' by the country boys and men who lived out there for a prize of $50 each time, and gone are the rolling hills of land possessed by the newly-franchised and freed blacks of this community.

As late as the 1980s, some of this history was still being preserved. Now, it's gone. Whitewashed by the power of the dollar and the dying-off of the "olderheads" who used to keep the history alive for us youth.

Any "cultural center" in Holly Springs should pay tribute to the blood, sweat and tears of the men and women who built the town and survived the antebellum South, up to the Civil Rights movement and on through the years till they were finally muscled out and bought out by corporate America.