Honoring the Past, Building a Future
I click my heels, pause, and salute the one hundred–year celebration of a historic Main Street building. As the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer says, “It is meet and right so to do.” Standing on a corner of Main Street with steadfastness, this commercial building has done its work faithfully for a century. It holds … Continue reading A Sunday Snow Day and a 100-Year Story on Main Street
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 … Continue reading The Dentist Upstairs: Circa 1917 – #2
One of Main Street Rocky Mount's great commercial buildings is Davis Furniture, a preservation show-off. Here it is with new wreaths bringing good cheer to Main Street. On Wednesday, in the rain and wind, I blew in the door to Christmas shop. I knew what I wanted and knew Davis Furniture has a nice selection … Continue reading Rocky Mount, NC: The Christmas Season on Main Street
This beautiful photograph from Larema Coffee House’s social media has quickly become my new favorite image capturing the art of preservation. Morning light streams softly into this thoughtfully repurposed bank, bringing the past and present into a shared glow. When I visit Larema, I imagine the whispers of the building’s history—customers cashing checks, parents setting … Continue reading Larema Coffee House: A Beacon of Preservation in Downtown Rocky Mount
I've always wanted to own and operate a bookstore. The kind of store you read about in fiction, the cozy setting, the store cat, a gathering place for reader's to share their discoveries. A location close to Main Street. First choice, a shotgun house repurposed in a settled neighborhood. For fun, I've written the opening … Continue reading Stepheny’s New Bookstore: Breathing New Life into an Old Shotgun House
When I first saw this restored historical facade just off Main Street on Tarboro, I felt like the little girl I once was, opening my mother's jewelry box to discover a shiny broach, a sparkly bracelet, an old ring, a gold choker necklace. This restored facade and interior are like a found treasure buried in … Continue reading Culinary Heritage: Discover Haiti’s Flavors in Rocky Mount’s Historic Setting – Kafe Louverture
Main Street Rocky Mount 