Guest post by Duwan Dunn: "Bertha has lived in Cabbagetown for a long time, long before it was sane for any African American to do so. ... At first I was a little hesitant. How would people perceive this project?
What a great story, Duwan! Anyone who paints with those colors--I'm a fan! Seems like that story, if you buy paint, they will come! Thanks Holly for introducing us to Duwan.
I love this story and I love Bertha's great house! Duwan, I can understand your initial hesitation because I think I would feel the same way so it's heartwarming to read how the neighborhood threw themselves into this project. Well done!
Holly thanks for bringing this story to your newsletter so we can all enjoy it.
This story is a powerful reminder that giving is a transformative experience, not just for the recipient but for the giver as well. You and the other volunteers didn't just paint Bertha's house; you painted a picture of hope, community, and the beauty of human connection. It's a testament to the fact that giving is its own reward.
Yes! I think it was very rewarding for everyone involved. Cabbagetown has always been a close community. I think it got a little closer painting Bertha's house. Thanks for your comment, Alexander.
I bet Bertha is singing that famous jingle, "I want to buy the world a Coke." I wonder what first triggered her memorabilia collection?
Paint offers such instant transformation and this entire story revolves around that, physically and spiritually. I initially thought this was a Toronto-based story as I once lived in Cabbagetown! This history is rather different but gentrification is a shared part of both stories. Over a century ago, wealthy Brit residents were less than impressed by the front gardens owned by Irish families who had fled the famine in the 1840s. They grew cabbages for their resilience (both people and plant). Toronto's Cabbagetown remains a juxtaposition of the prosperous and struggling. Many of the former workers' cottages and coach houses have been protected under the Heritage Conservation Act.
The tale of two Cabbagetowns! Thanks for sharing your brushstrokes, Duwan!
Atlanta is home to Coca Cola so I imagine it may have just been easy to find Coke stuff. Who knows? Bertha collects a lot of things.
I've heard of the Toronto Cabbaetown. There are many stories about how the Atlanta Cabbagetown got it's name. Perhaps it was a cabbage truck that turned over in the neighborhood or just the smell of cabbage that people regularly cooked.
Only a few of the descents from the original Cabbagetown residents are left. And many of the poorer residents are getting priced out by rising poverty taxes. But somehow the neighborhood attracts people who are dedicated to keeping the spirit of the neighborhood alive,
‘The Rev’ sounds like such an interesting character. I want to know more about this guy. A lovely and well written story Duwan. Very enjoyable reading, indeed.
And thank you, Holly for enlightening us to this wonderful writer :)
Thank you, Michael. Yes, The Rev is an interesting character. Here are a few short antidotes. His house, like all the old mill houses in Cabbagetown, was in dire need of painting once. He painted the whole thing himself. It looked great. And then he went and "antiqued" it to make it look like it was moldy with black stains dripping from the windows. He is a sculptor and buys granite meant for headstones but are too flawed to use. He sculpted a giant (perhaps 10 feet or more long, 3 to 4 feet tall) shark in his side yard. Because someone was complaining about the noise from his sculpting, he put up a privacy fence in the middle of his yard and surreptitiously dug a giant hole big enough for a shipping container behind it. He put a shipping container in the hole and buried it. This was his new studio and man cave. No one knew he had done it until he was finished. I'm pretty sure he did this all by himself. For his fortieth birthday he had a special cake made with a giant penis on it (he is heterosexual).
Friggin brilliant. You could, for sure, bring this guy back as a recurring character if you ever feel compared to share more Cabbagetown-related tales. ;)
I noticed the three Berthas right away! 😅 She really is that special, I can tell. What a great community project and reassuring example of generosity. I know you and Greg worked hard, Duwan, but I also know that sometimes getting a project like this done is mostly a matter of having someone like you willing to take the lead.
My girlfriends and I used to play with the notion of having rotating clean-up days for each other, the idea being that a group of us would converge at someone's home--clean, build, paint declutter, whatever needed doing--then do it again at the next house another time. We never pulled it off (except for a few who were in urgent circumstances).
Thank you, Elizabeth! Not to toot my own horn, but I agree that it takes a good organizer. I've been to too many volunteer projects where people just stood around. I made sure that everyone had a job and knew what to do.
It was hard at first. I didn't know if we would get any participation. So I was afraid the idea might fail. I'm not really a leader, but I'm a pretty good organizer.
Well done, Elizabeth! I missed the three Bertha’s till I saw the caption. :) She does seem awesome. And Duwan is the perfect person to lead/organize such a project.
I love your idea for the rotating get-er-done crew, btw. That’s pretty brilliant. I mean, don’t we all have some project or other that could totally use a few extra sets of hands?!
And wouldn't sharing those projects with others make them so much more fun? Maybe I'll suggest a revival of this concept at a friend gathering. I have two bedrooms that need painting. My hubby is picky about the finished results, but it's the prep work that keeps us from getting to that work. Free dust masks, hard cider, and pizza, coming atcha! :)
Cabbagetown is amazing place. I lived there for 4 years full time and for 8 summers when we were traveling. It is full of character, amazing neighbor, and cute houses. We've never found a place that can compare!
Thanks Donna. It was really amazing how it all came together.
What a great story, Duwan! Anyone who paints with those colors--I'm a fan! Seems like that story, if you buy paint, they will come! Thanks Holly for introducing us to Duwan.
Thanks! Yes, it seemed to have worked that way. Bertha loves those primary colors.
Haha! True. What shall I buy and see if they come? 🤔 🤣
I dunno—lots of choices there!
Sooooo many!
I love this story and I love Bertha's great house! Duwan, I can understand your initial hesitation because I think I would feel the same way so it's heartwarming to read how the neighborhood threw themselves into this project. Well done!
Holly thanks for bringing this story to your newsletter so we can all enjoy it.
Right?! So much character in those walls and that neighborhood.
Thank you for reading, Donna. More than glad to share this story and Duwan. 💕
Every hood needs a rockstar Reverend!
Who gets on tall peaks at a moments notice.
This story is a powerful reminder that giving is a transformative experience, not just for the recipient but for the giver as well. You and the other volunteers didn't just paint Bertha's house; you painted a picture of hope, community, and the beauty of human connection. It's a testament to the fact that giving is its own reward.
Yes! I think it was very rewarding for everyone involved. Cabbagetown has always been a close community. I think it got a little closer painting Bertha's house. Thanks for your comment, Alexander.
Well said, Alexander. This was an experience that stayed with the neighborhood for a long time, I’m certain. So glad Duwan picked this one to share. 💕
I bet Bertha is singing that famous jingle, "I want to buy the world a Coke." I wonder what first triggered her memorabilia collection?
Paint offers such instant transformation and this entire story revolves around that, physically and spiritually. I initially thought this was a Toronto-based story as I once lived in Cabbagetown! This history is rather different but gentrification is a shared part of both stories. Over a century ago, wealthy Brit residents were less than impressed by the front gardens owned by Irish families who had fled the famine in the 1840s. They grew cabbages for their resilience (both people and plant). Toronto's Cabbagetown remains a juxtaposition of the prosperous and struggling. Many of the former workers' cottages and coach houses have been protected under the Heritage Conservation Act.
The tale of two Cabbagetowns! Thanks for sharing your brushstrokes, Duwan!
You're welcome, Jules! Thanks for your comment.
.
Atlanta is home to Coca Cola so I imagine it may have just been easy to find Coke stuff. Who knows? Bertha collects a lot of things.
I've heard of the Toronto Cabbaetown. There are many stories about how the Atlanta Cabbagetown got it's name. Perhaps it was a cabbage truck that turned over in the neighborhood or just the smell of cabbage that people regularly cooked.
Only a few of the descents from the original Cabbagetown residents are left. And many of the poorer residents are getting priced out by rising poverty taxes. But somehow the neighborhood attracts people who are dedicated to keeping the spirit of the neighborhood alive,
‘The Rev’ sounds like such an interesting character. I want to know more about this guy. A lovely and well written story Duwan. Very enjoyable reading, indeed.
And thank you, Holly for enlightening us to this wonderful writer :)
Thank you, Michael. Yes, The Rev is an interesting character. Here are a few short antidotes. His house, like all the old mill houses in Cabbagetown, was in dire need of painting once. He painted the whole thing himself. It looked great. And then he went and "antiqued" it to make it look like it was moldy with black stains dripping from the windows. He is a sculptor and buys granite meant for headstones but are too flawed to use. He sculpted a giant (perhaps 10 feet or more long, 3 to 4 feet tall) shark in his side yard. Because someone was complaining about the noise from his sculpting, he put up a privacy fence in the middle of his yard and surreptitiously dug a giant hole big enough for a shipping container behind it. He put a shipping container in the hole and buried it. This was his new studio and man cave. No one knew he had done it until he was finished. I'm pretty sure he did this all by himself. For his fortieth birthday he had a special cake made with a giant penis on it (he is heterosexual).
Omg! These stories are amazing! There needs to be a movie about this man. :)
Right?!
Friggin brilliant. You could, for sure, bring this guy back as a recurring character if you ever feel compared to share more Cabbagetown-related tales. ;)
Thank you, Michael!! There's always a space for you here if you a story that would fit the collection should prompt you to tell it. ;)
Thanks Holly!
I have been thinking if I have any stories that would suit. If one comes up and writing it works — I’ll let you know :)
Yassss!!
Heartening, thanks
Thanks for reading, Anna!
💕💕
What a great post and love the Ask and Give stories, Holly. Duwan's guest post was wonderful.
Thank you so much, Jeanine!
My pleasure! What journeys you've been (and are still) on! I look forward to following your adventures! Vaya con dios, amigos.
Muchas gracias!
Thanks, Jeanine! This is a great story. :)
I noticed the three Berthas right away! 😅 She really is that special, I can tell. What a great community project and reassuring example of generosity. I know you and Greg worked hard, Duwan, but I also know that sometimes getting a project like this done is mostly a matter of having someone like you willing to take the lead.
My girlfriends and I used to play with the notion of having rotating clean-up days for each other, the idea being that a group of us would converge at someone's home--clean, build, paint declutter, whatever needed doing--then do it again at the next house another time. We never pulled it off (except for a few who were in urgent circumstances).
Thanks, Holly and Duwan for this inspiring story!
Thank you, Elizabeth! Not to toot my own horn, but I agree that it takes a good organizer. I've been to too many volunteer projects where people just stood around. I made sure that everyone had a job and knew what to do.
It was hard at first. I didn't know if we would get any participation. So I was afraid the idea might fail. I'm not really a leader, but I'm a pretty good organizer.
Well done, Elizabeth! I missed the three Bertha’s till I saw the caption. :) She does seem awesome. And Duwan is the perfect person to lead/organize such a project.
I love your idea for the rotating get-er-done crew, btw. That’s pretty brilliant. I mean, don’t we all have some project or other that could totally use a few extra sets of hands?!
And wouldn't sharing those projects with others make them so much more fun? Maybe I'll suggest a revival of this concept at a friend gathering. I have two bedrooms that need painting. My hubby is picky about the finished results, but it's the prep work that keeps us from getting to that work. Free dust masks, hard cider, and pizza, coming atcha! :)
Thanks, Holly and Duwan!
You are welcome, Nan!
💕
After reading this I want to live in Cabbagetown!
Cabbagetown is amazing place. I lived there for 4 years full time and for 8 summers when we were traveling. It is full of character, amazing neighbor, and cute houses. We've never found a place that can compare!