In creating the Main Street blog, I have written about the value of historic shotgun houses, highlighting their cultural significance, architectural charm, and place in our city’s history. Now, it is time to turn words into action. Rocky Mount’s inventory of shotgun houses is dwindling, and without immediate intervention, we risk losing an essential part of our community’s story.
Shotgun houses are among the most historically significant forms of Southern residential architecture. Some historians trace their origins to West Africa, brought to the Americas through the African diaspora, while others suggest a Caribbean influence, particularly from Haiti. Regardless of their precise beginnings, these homes became a defining feature of working-class neighborhoods in cities like New Orleans, Houston, Louisville, and yes, Rocky Mount. Their narrow, elongated design was practical and affordable, maximizing land use in urban settings while offering homeownership opportunities to lower-income families.
Despite their historical and cultural importance, shotgun houses are disappearing through neglect. Rocky Mount is living on borrowed time in preserving this inventory. Without a structured effort to document, restore, and repurpose these homes, we will lose an irreplaceable part of our city’s identity.
A Shotgun Commission would protect and celebrate our remaining shotgun houses. We need a dedicated body focused on their preservation. I am calling for the formation of a Shotgun Commission in Rocky Mount—a group that includes preservationists, the appropriate city planners, historians, architects, real estate agents, a lawyer, a banker, a developer, one representative from Ward 1-4 neighborhood associations. Rocky Mount community members will provide the knowledge that forms the decisions to save this signifiant historical asset. An most valuable, we’ll need passionate volunteers.
The Commissions work plan would involve conducting an Inventory – documenting and assessing the existing shotgun houses in Rocky Mount to understand their conditions and significance.
Advocate for Protection – Work with city officials to prevent unnecessary demolitions.
Promote Restoration and Adaptive Reuse – Encourage rehabilitation efforts that respect historical integrity while making these homes viable for modern living.
Educate and Engage the Community – Raise awareness about the cultural and architectural value of shotgun houses through events, tours, and partnerships with local schools and organizations.
Seek Funding and Incentives – Explore grants, tax credits, and funding sources to support restoration efforts and make preservation financially feasible for homeowners.
If you care about preserving Rocky Mount’s architectural heritage, now is the time to act. Whether you have expertise in historic preservation, are a homeowner interested in restoration, or simply want to support this effort, your voice and participation matter.
I invite city officials, preservation advocates, and residents to join this movement. Together, we can ensure that Rocky Mount’s shotgun houses remain a living part of our community’s future rather than just a memory of its past. Let’s not wait until it’s too late.
Main Street Rocky Mount 