Honoring the Past, Building a Future
Rocky Mount NC: Preservation of Historic Commercial and Residential Architecture
Friday afternoon, August 8 in Rocky Mount. I was downtown to photograph the building at 112 NW Main Street. In the stretch of street where I stood, I counted six cars. Six. The building I came to photograph, and the ones reflected in the glass across the tracks, looked like a patchwork quilt stitched by … Continue reading A ‘Raggedy Ass’ Friday In Rocky Mount, NC
On a recent post about Rueben Blackwell and the condition of Happy Hill, a reader left a comment that spoke directly to what many in Rocky Mount have quietly hoped for: "We need City Management to assemble a group of smart, hard working, caring, professional staff members who will look at every neighborhood in the … Continue reading Rocky Mount,NC: A Neighborhood, A Task Force, A Future
Casting Call I love this fun quote: “The guy couldn’t play a dead man in a cowboy movie.” As we approach this fall’s City Council elections, let’s make sure we’re not just filling seats. Rocky Mount deserves authentic leadership, council members who don’t just talk about preservation, restoration, and repurposing at election time, but who … Continue reading A Heads Up From Stepheny’s Fishing Spot – A Casting Call
Read Sunday's post, the last blog until the fall. I'm putting a sign on the blog that says, 'Gone Fishing.' My project for the summer; researching, getting my ducks in row about the AWNING PROJECT and sweet talking to the City Council in 3 minutes. That and spending the summer with Margaret Thatcher in a … Continue reading Stepheny On Main Street Is ‘Gone Fishing’After Sunday New Blog Post
Years ago, I spent time with a fabulous woman who was a therapist, a nun living away from her order. I was there for hand-holding over some adult children issues. One of the things I learned was, you no longer tell a grown-up son or daughter, but ask. Example: Not: "I want you to open … Continue reading Mind How You Go: A Gentle Way Forward In Rocky Mount, NC
Two small moments—one in a movie theater, one on a London street, remind me that what we preserve aren't just buildings, but stories that happened in just the right place, at just the right time, and they become a kind of personal landmark. I’ve always loved the movie 84 Charing Cross Road, the quiet affection … Continue reading Why Main Street Memories Deserve a Place in Preservation
Main Street Rocky Mount 