Image from Pinterest
Growing up on Asbury Ave in Evanston, Il. there was a girl down the street who had a playhouse in the backyard. It was love at first sight. Looking back it was the beginning of my love of architecture.
Each spring I was invited to come and spring house clean. I viewed it as a privilege to be invited. I smile now and think of Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer. You remember Tom is punished and made to whitewash a fence. Instead of asking for help, he cleverly pretends that painting the fence is a rare privilege, making it look like an enjoyable, exclusive task.
One by one, the other boys beg him to let them take a turn, even offering him small treasures in exchange. The reality is Tom never asks for help, the boys ask him.
Image from Pinterest
Isn’t it interesting what we remember? I no longer remember the neighbor girl’s name, but my love for playhouses has never left me. With tiny houses coming on the scene, and container homes, I was immediately intrigued.
Have you gone to see or stay at a Tiny Home at Rocky Mount Mill? They have created a charming space. More than a playhouse to love, the various models are wonderful.
Now we have container homes, which is a small living space converted from one or more, new or repurposed shipping containers into custom homes.
A standard high cube shipping container is typically 20 feet by 8 feet or 40 feet by 8 feet, and the results are amazing.
The charm of tiny homes and the innovation of container living reflect something deeper; our enduring desire to make small spaces meaningful.
Whether it’s a childhood playhouse, a repurposed shipping container, or a restored mill house, these spaces invite us to see architecture not just as shelter, but as story.
In Rocky Mount, we’re discovering that even the tiniest footprint can leave a lasting legacy, one that honors the past and reimagines the future.
We don’t always remember names, but we remember feelings. A playhouse. A spring day. The joy of being invited in. That’s how it starts, the lifelong love for beauty, for belonging, for places that tell a story. And maybe that’s what preservation really is: keeping the invitation open.
Main Street Rocky Mount 
Hi Stepheny! I have enjoyed reading your blog posts – thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. I am strongly considering a move to Rocky Mount, and I was wondering if you would be open to email and / or phone communication with me to ask some questions. I am planning to visit Rocky Mount at the end of July, or early August. Thank you so much for your time and consideration! ~ Cathy : )
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Hi Cathy: Delighted to talk by phone, which seems more productive than e-mail. Trying to figure out how to share my phone number privately with you. Got an idea?
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