Honoring the Past, Building a Future
In the heart of every historic building is a story. Brent Leggs has made it his mission to make sure we hear all of them. As the founding Executive Director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, Leggs leads the largest preservation campaign ever undertaken to protect sites of Black history in the United … Continue reading What Rocky Mount Can Learn From: Brent Leggs – Continuing the Legacy
Undated photo of the 100 block of SW Main St. On the 100 block of SW Main Street, the past lingers in brick and shadow. An old photograph holds the memory of that block—when storefronts welcomed customers with a handshake and a smile. That image reminds us: buildings don’t preserve themselves. People do. Two such … Continue reading What Rocky Mount Can Learn From: Jane Jacobs and Richard Moe
April 29 at 7:30 AM I will post the first in a series about what preservationists, past and present, have to teach Rocky Mount as we honor the past and build a future. If you missed the introduction last week, I explain what I'm up to in writing this series. You can read it at: … Continue reading Preservationist Wisdom: Building Rocky Mount’s Future
With Mayor Roberson's announcement that he will seek a seat in Congress, I want to offer my congratulations and sincere best wishes. It takes vision, courage, and energy to step onto a larger stage, and Rocky Mount can be proud that one of its own is willing to answer that call. Mayor Roberson’s leadership — … Continue reading Wishing Mayor Roberson Well — and Keeping Rocky Mount Strong
What do a former First Lady, a Black preservation economist, a coffeehouse founder, and a bricklayer have in common? They believed in the power of place. They knew that old buildings hold more than walls—they hold memory. Craftsmanship. Community, and the promise that something worth saving still stands. This blog series, What Rocky Mount Can … Continue reading Beginning 4-24-25 – A New Series- What Preservationists Have to Teach Rocky Mount
Main Street Rocky Mount 