“You will never get to the end of the journey if you stop to shy a stone at every dog that barks.”
— Winston Churchill, Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, December 3, 1923
I have gone and done it again, shying stones at barking dogs.
I had set out to photograph the Newby-Duke House on the corner of Western Avenue and South Howell Street, the newest house biography in my House Biography Series.
As I stood there, I smiled, remembering a photograph I had taken a few years ago. A workman installing the new roof looked down, smiled, and waved. That roof was part of the remarkable restoration Adrienne Copland was undertaking, one house at a time, proving what vision, craftsmanship, and perseverance can accomplish.
I did get my photographs.
But then the barking dogs drew my attention across Western Avenue.
Thus the title for today’s blog.
Here is what I saw.
Click the arrow on the right to view the slideshow. It’s hard to see but it is there.
Instead of continuing to focus on the newest house biography, I found myself distracted by another story, one that demanded asking a few questions.
A little detective work revealed that this has not appeared overnight. A longtime Howell Street resident told me it has been an ongoing situation for years. None of us knows the full story. It may involve illness. It may involve personal tragedy. Neighbors have tried to help. The city has been contacted. Code Enforcement has been involved.
Yet the conditions remain.
Whatever circumstances brought this property to this point deserve compassion. But compassion and community standards are not opposites. There comes a point when neglect affects an entire neighborhood, the investment of nearby homeowners, and the dignity of the community itself. Somewhere, a line has been crossed.
How can this kind of neglect and blight be allowed to consume a property?
How does a neighborhood that is working hard to restore its historic homes find itself living beside this?
Those are questions worth asking.
Historic preservation has taught me that every neighborhood tells more than one story. Howell Street is telling two.
One is the hopeful story of restoration, neighbors investing in their community, preserving beautiful old houses, and believing in the future.
The other is the painful story of what happens when a property is allowed to slip beyond every reasonable boundary.
Both stories deserve our attention.
Both stories belong to Rocky Mount.
PS: 4:41 PM I reader kindly sent me this photo taken a year ago. 2025 Thank you!
Main Street Rocky Mount 
Ms. Houghtlin, bless you for your observations and comments. I wish more people would be like you. When I was 12 years old I delivered News Papers (The Evening Telegram) to that house. It was so long ago, the daily paper paid for by the week was 40 cents. I made 12 cents of that 40 cents as my profit. I delivered that route until I was 16 years old and got my driver’s license. Did not want to ride a bicycle any longer so I went to work at Chandler’s Dime Store until I went off to college at NC State until graduation in 4 years. That neighborhood was pristine. Frank Vost (Gay Yost Funeral home live in that house or next door. (it has been 69 years ago). Chief of Police Clyde Hooker was on my route, Nick & Betsy Boddie, George Miller (local builder), Charles Thurman (JW Thurman’s Plumbing), Jack Aycock (managed Riverside Apartments), The Elks Lodge, and many others who took pride in their home. Almost everyone took the newspaper and took pride in their homes. Some even hired me to cut their grass. I only had to remember who did not take the paper on my blocks and skip over them which were very few. I made $7.20 a week and saved it all. I was taught to manage money by my parents. Forgive me for rambling on and on but your comments brings back wonderful memories. Forgive my lack of paragraphs but I was afraid if I hit enter or return it would send my unfinished message. Chancey Hill
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I lived across the street facing Villa St. The alley separated our house and the Duke home. Frank Yost’s daughter taught at the Academy and the Westers were next door. Retired police chief lived middle way of Howell St. also. Later Miss Fannie Gorham lived next door to my mother and daddy.
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Thank you for this additional information. Let me be sure I understand. These are people who lived on Howell st? I would love to include this information in a Home biography series I am working on and the duke house is almost done. You get a star in your crown for taking the time to share this. Thank you.
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