Honoring the Past, Building a Future
“Cities are remembered not only for what they build new, but for what they choose to keep.” SFH These buildings matter. They are a presence in the story of Rocky Mount; not burdens but possibilities. They still possess beauty, dignity, and purpose. These photographs show us that restoration does not begin with money or construction. … Continue reading Three Downtown Buildings: Restored to Their Original Beauty
My first instinct, standing on the sidewalk, camera in hand, is not generous. It is the Queen of Hearts rising up in me: “Off with their heads!” as Lewis Carroll once wrote. How does this happen? Looking at the glass on this beautiful brick sidewalk, I ask, how does someone own a building on Main Street, part … Continue reading When Local Ownership Fails Main Street: Part 3 203 SE Main Street
I take the Atlantic Avenue exit often. I always look for improvement. Sometimes there is obvious work going on, but overall, year after year, the street is a terrible first impression. I keep meaning to count how many used car lots there are. There are houses sitting in deep neglect. Rooflines sagging. Windows boarded. Yards … Continue reading Clean Up on Aisle Atlantic Avenue: A First Look at Rocky Mount
I watch a lot of the videos of lawn clean-ups and repost some on my Main Street Facebook page. With the right equipment, one or more people find a neglected, overgrown yard and offer, for free, to reclaim the property. The results are always remarkable. In a matter of hours the transformation lifts more than … Continue reading Hope Shows Up on Branch Street: Rocky Mount NC
109 S.E. Main Street (c. 1907) A two-story brick commercial building on S.E. Main, immediately south of the 1918 Rocky Mount National Bank. Historic forms describe a pilastered upper façade with round-arched second-story openings over a storefront, a look typical of Main Street construction just after 1900. Over time, alterations (a replacement storefront, bricked-in arches, … Continue reading The Steadfast Face of Main Street’s Historic Core-#3
Main Street Rocky Mount 