William West, Telegram Staff Writer, Brings Good News

I love Rocky Mount Mills. (Everything but the stickers on the water tank that are tacky.) I admire all the wonderful people involved, from the owners to a lovely young waitress that brings your food. Check out this post I wrote on The Battle Family. https://mainstreetrockymount.com/2015/08/26/a-family-leaves-a-legacy-the-battle-family/ The preservation, restoration, repurposing, landscaping, atmosphere, businesses, the whole … Continue reading William West, Telegram Staff Writer, Brings Good News →

Faded But Not Forgotten: Rocky Mount’s Ghost Signs

This isn’t the first time I’ve written about ghost signs, and I doubt it will be the last. Something about them keeps calling me back. Maybe it’s the way they invite us to look closer at what we pass every day. Or maybe it's the quiet dignity with which they endure, fading but not forgotten. … Continue reading Faded But Not Forgotten: Rocky Mount’s Ghost Signs →

The Power of Repurposing: Endless Possibilities

Repurposing historical commercial architecture along Main Street Rocky Mount is one of the most fascinating aspects of preservation. Preservation isn’t just about saving what was, it’s about imagining what could be. When we repurpose an old building, we’re not erasing its past, we’re extending its story. A repurposed structure becomes both a tribute to craftsmanship … Continue reading The Power of Repurposing: Endless Possibilities →

From Playhouses to Possibilities: Small Spaces, Big Ideas

Image from Pinterest Growing up on Asbury Ave in Evanston, Il. there was a girl down the street who had a playhouse in the backyard. It was love at first sight. Looking back it was the beginning of my love of architecture. Each spring I was invited to come and spring house clean. I viewed … Continue reading From Playhouses to Possibilities: Small Spaces, Big Ideas →

Preservation vs. Progress: Be Careful What You Pray For

It started with a prayer, one of those earnest, hopeful moments shared among friends when life throws a curve: Years ago my husband and I belonged to a couples prayer group. One of the men lost his job and we all began to pray, for a NEW job. Turns out we prayed he and his … Continue reading Preservation vs. Progress: Be Careful What You Pray For →

The Memories That Led to Stepheny, the Preservationist

1800 Asbury Ave - Evanston, IL. Before I ever knew the word “preservation,”I knew how it felt to love a house.To love a neighborhood.To love a way of life shaped by streets, seasons, and sidewalks. I grew up in Evanston, Illinois, where winter blanketed the world in white silence.I’d sit on the radiator cover in … Continue reading The Memories That Led to Stepheny, the Preservationist →