The Dentist Upstairs: Circa 1917 – #2

A two-story brick commercial building was constructed circa 1917 for I. W. Rose. It housed Rose Drug Store and remained in operation in that location at least through 1980, making it one of the longest continuously operating drugstores in Rocky Mount’s Central Business District.

Built by contractor R. T. Fountain, the structure reflected the optimism of the early 1920s, when downtown storefronts were rising to meet the city’s growing population and new industries.

Architecturally, the storefront underwent significant modifications in the 1950s: a new brick veneer façade was added, the second‑story windows and an overhead transom were covered with vinyl siding, and a metal roll-up door was installed on the storefront

White glazed brick, fashionable for its clean, bright appearance, gave the façade a contemporary look that set it apart from older red-brick neighbors.

When it first opened, the street level was home to a busy retail shop with large plate-glass display windows designed to draw in passersby.

Upstairs, the second floor offered office space for professionals, attorneys, insurance agents, and, most memorably, Dr. Richard Hunt’s grandfather, whose dental practice overlooked Main Street.

Patients climbed a narrow stairwell from the tiled entryway, where a Greek key border in green and white still greets visitors today.

Time and neglect have taken their toll. The once-clear display windows are now clouded with dust, the sign band that once announced thriving businesses stands empty, and the red-painted window frames on the second story show the wear of a century.

The tile floor at the entrance, though cracked, is a testament to the craftsmanship of its era. Even the ventilator panels above the shopfront remain, an architectural detail from a time when natural airflow was a necessity in Southern summers.

Yet, in the bones of the building, the original vision is still there. You can see it in the proportions of the façade, the symmetry of its upper windows, and the way it still holds its place proudly in the block’s rhythm. Buildings like this are more than relics; they are living history. They tell the stories of the people who built them, worked in them, and trusted them as part of their daily lives.

Unfortunately, the building sits empty with a For Rent sign in the window.

For Dr. Richard Hunt, 112 NW Main Street will never just be a building. It is the place where his grandfather welcomed patients, calmed fears, and restored smiles, day after day, year after year.

When we stop to remember these personal landmarks, we are reminded that preservation is not just about saving structures. It’s about holding on to the stories that make us who we are, and passing them on so the next generation knows where they came from, and whose hands shaped the life they now inherit

Historical details from the 1980 Rocky Mount Historic District National Register nomination and building survey records.

This post is dedicated to Dr. Richard Hunt, who keeps me smiling and is the best !!!!!!!