Random Artifacts
Bits
of stuff awaiting a home.
Where?
What? How'd that get there?
What you are looking at is
24 Campbell. Which Campbell, east or
west, Im not sure. Very hard to say. Here's the facts on both. The SW
24 is the former Woolworths Lunch Counter (building c. 1910), while the
SE is the current Cornerstone Bar and Grill, former Roanoke Fish
&
Oyster Co. (building c. 1905). What we are looking at here is a
drive-in mechanics shop. Building wise
the Woolworths location would be more compatable to this layout. The
main section of the former Woolworths was not built until 1914. The
section that is directly behind where 24 SW lies was built in 1949,
giving a much wider date for opportunity. However, 24 E Campbell cannot
be totally ruled out. Just partially due to the age of the building
behind it (1903) and its proximity to the market itself.
If you look closely at the right side of the picture, just inside the
entryway, you can make out the images of tires. The print on both sides
of the picture reads "Drive In Batterys" although at first, I would
have sworn it said "Drive In Bakery". Now that would be an idea. But
alas, with no clear winner - I have to go with the idea of it being the
former CampbellMart/Woolworths. Hopefully, my research will provide a
clearer answer.
Another one of
Roanoke's abandoned children. Nearly impossible to tell where this
image was taken, as I am almost certain that none of these buildings
exist today. There appears to be a church mid-scene, towards the back.
The road rises gently upwards, then seems to vanish back by
the
church. But the real focus here is that house,
right-of-center.
The one with the porch and smoke coming from the chimney. Thats a very
odd angle for a house to be built at. Especially with the road being
just before it. My only thought is that the road was added after that
house was built, and the surrounding homes (facing the road) were built
after. There are people in this photo, you have to look very carefully
to find them. Another one I hope to reveal sometime in the future.
This,
to
my thinking, is a highly unusual view of the star. Not only are you
above the star, but your looking at it from an angle. Beyond even that,
the usual markers for the star are nonexistant. The powerhouse is out
of range, or does not yet exist at this point. There is a pathway
leading from the front of the star down to a trail. There is no
overlook, no sign of Roanoke below, all you see is farmland behind.
There appears to be a small building directly behind the star, with
what could be a car parked nearby.
Part of me believes this photo is a composite, an early photoshop. The
lack of definition on the left side of the photo, yet crystal clear on
the rightside makes me wonder. If it was not for the large star in the
midst, we would not know this as Roanoke. This is one that will take a
long time to crack, but it will come.