I know ‘one thing leads to another’ is a cliche, but when I began writing the Main Street blog, that’s what always happens. My favorite is, “Have you met so in so? You need to talk to them.” That’s how I know all these wonderful people in Rocky Mount, NC.
As an example, I spent part of a day with Knox Porter, ‘Buddy’ and Crystal Wimes-Anderson. We had lunch and then drove around, which led to the Daughtridge Bungalow pictured above. Knox knew this branch on the Daughtridge family tree. His father was friends with Wm K Daughtridge, farming on a large parcel of land where this bungalow was built. ‘Bud,’ the son, was a mechanic that worked on the Knox Porter Nursery equipment and teenage Knox’s car. Today the restored bungalow has been repurposed as a business, Transtech Energy. We were able to tour the house and I was smiling from head to toe, if that’s possible. The Transtech staff are wonderful! Thank you Lisa Carpenter who showed us around.
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Wm K Daughtridge M 71 North Carolina “farmer”
Wife Roxanna Daughtridge F 67 North Carolina
Son Wm K Daughtridge ‘Bud’ M 29 North Carolina “automobile mechanic”
Daughter Roxanna Daughtridge F 26 North Carolina
If you read the blog you know that part of preservation for me is the stories, people, like the Daughtridge Family. They were shaped by the times; the agricultural heritage, a railroad legacy, challenges of segregation, yet with strong community values, cultural traditions, and the resilience of its people.
William Daughtridge was a farmer. Agriculture was the backbone of Rocky Mount’s economy in 1915. The region was known for its tobacco, cotton, and peanut industries. The culture of the time was deeply rooted in agrarian traditions, with farming families forming the fabric of the community. I think of William , his wife, Roxanna, and their children. gathering for Sunday church services, community picnics, part of simpler times. We must add the railroad story, the influence of Jim Crow laws, the challenges the African American community in Rocky Mount faced.
The restoration of the Daughtridge Bungalow is a major success. In Part 2, on Thursday, read more about bungalow architecture that is a part of the Rocky Mount story.
Main Street Rocky Mount 