Tag: Architectural Preservation

The Last Victorian House Standing on Church Street

I have been thinking about a photograph I have never seen. It would show South Church Street in Rocky Mount when beautiful Victorian houses stood along what was once one of the city's most desirable residential avenues. Imagine the front porches, decorative woodwork, tall windows, steep gables, and handsome rooflines of houses built by families … Continue reading The Last Victorian House Standing on Church Street →

Rocky Mount, NC – It’s All in the Presentation

Her name was Kate. She was a fabulous hostess, cook, and all-around energetic and talented gal. It was from her that I first heard the pronouncement, “It’s all in the presentation.” I think a dessert failed for a small dinner party, and an Oreo cookie on a silver plate was her solution. It became her example, … Continue reading Rocky Mount, NC – It’s All in the Presentation →

The Case of the Missing Doors

I read mysteries, and two of my favorite characters are Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Donna Leon's Commissariat Guido Brunetti. Both men solve mysteries by paying attention to what others overlook, listening carefully, asking questions, and patiently following every clue. I consider both men close literary friends. Over the years, I have become … Continue reading The Case of the Missing Doors →

A Medical Emergency on South Church Street

The Patient's Name Is Summerlin House Emergency Intake Report Patient: Summerlin House Address: 430 South Church Street Age: Approximately 125 years Diagnosis: Progressive deterioration caused by years of deferred maintenance. Condition: Serious, but still treatable. Finding No. 1 The first symptom is easy to see. The paint is failing. Most of us think of paint as something cosmetic. Historic houses … Continue reading A Medical Emergency on South Church Street →