Posted tagged ‘Allison D’Amora’
Phoenix14News: May 3, 2012 Web Update
May 3, 2012Elon alumni look back on their time at Elon
April 16, 2012By Allison D’Amora
Jo Watts Williams, Vice President Emerita, has seen a lot of changes at Elon since the 1950s when she first arrived on campus.
“The bus stopped right down at the corner of Williamson and Haggard and Dr. Danieley met me,” Williams said. “You either had to come by train or bus then.”
Williams says that Elon’s campus looked a lot different back then, stretching only from West Dormitory, through Alamance and ending at Mooney. Smith, Carolina, Hook, Brannock and Barney and the Academic Pavillions weren’t built yet. The library was housed in downstairs Carlton, Mooney was home to the bookstore and a jukebox for entertainment and what students now know as Town Table was called Elon Grille.
One of the biggest changes on campus is the addition of the fountain in front of Alamance. The fountain today is one of the most notable spots on campus, but more than half a century ago, students parked their cars in lots behind and in front of the building.
John and Dolores Truitt were both day students at Elon in the 50s, and they look back fondly on their days as “Fighting Christians.”
“It was close and delightful,” Truitt said.
As the school continued to grow, the campus did change, but these alumni believe that the Elon spirit has stayed the same.
“Not that much has changed in the values that we treasure,” Williams said. “We still treasure community.”
“There’s something about Elon and I really can’t put my finger on,” Truitt said. “That spirit still exists today even though the school is so much larger than it was.”
Phoenix 14 News: Thursday Update, February 23rd
February 23, 2012A Local Resident Is Living His Fairy Tale Dream
January 24, 2012By Allison D’Amora
Knights, gargoyles and swords in stones are not only found in fairy tales. One local resident is living his own fairy tale dream.
Jim Gottchlich decided to fulfill his childhood dream of raising horses after selling his rubber molding company in Membane in 1997. Gottchlich purchased 90 acres of land and built a 5600-square foot home in close proximity to his barn.
But this house is not your average single family home. Gottchlich designed his house to look like a castle.
Castle von Gottchlich, as he calls it, mixes modern elements with features usually found in castles or fairy tales. The house features gargoyles, a sword stuck in stone and even a knight in shining armor named Sir Gilded.
Growing up Gottchlich was intrigued by knights and fairy tales, but when he was in his early 20’s he envisioned living in his own castle.
His inspiration for the house was not only based off of research and castles he has visited, but more importantly he was inspired by the values and messages that fairy tales hold.
“I believe in the principles that they always showed on the movies, chivalry and things of that nature, and I lived my life like that,” he said.
After living in the house for thirteen years, Gottchlich has decided it’s time to sell his fairy tale home and pursue a new dream.
“I will probably want to design my own house and build it and whether it will be this unique or not, I don’t know, but maybe on the inside it will be special,” Gottchlich said.
The house is currently on the market and selling for $1.395 million. Gottchlich says for his next house he would like to downsize but hopes to create something just as unique.
