Out and About
I saw this scene in Madison, NC yesterday in a dry goods store, operating out of an early 1900s building that once housed a hotel in one half, while the other half was a hardware store. It’s a rustic and very enjoyable place to shop, and to make photos. These two rooms were for trying on clothes. The scene definitely caught my photographic eye.
Madison, NC. One of my favorite small towns nearby. Always find interesting photo compositions there.
I’ve written many times that I love trains and most things associated with them. Especially old depots such as this one in Madison, NC. Trains still use the adjacent tracks, and that’s good. It’s just that they don’t stop here anymore. When I visit such locations I like to imagine what it was like living here during the 1930s, 40s, and 50s in America when passenger and freight trains were the main mode of transportation, and many small cities and towns like Madison were serviced daily. When I was a young boy I recall traveling about on passenger trains with my parents, going from city-to-city. It was exciting, albeit a bit daunting, to have to walk along a passenger and baggage platform that ran in between train depot tracks, where massive locomotives sat waiting to depart. The steam engines hissed and rumbled above me as we walked along. But I began to relax as we boarded our train, with a friendly uniformed Conductor helping me climb the steep steps into our assigned car. I always had a window seat with my face plastered to the glass most of the time, peering out at passing sights. These are memories I’ll never forget. I guess that’s why I like making photos at places like this old depot.
We live about fifteen driving minutes away from Madison, NC. The small town of about 2000 is located in the Piedmont Region of Virginia and North Carolina, and its downtown business district is a favorite place for me to visit. Always with my camera. In that regard I offer up Madison’s Dry Goods Country Store. I love visiting and shopping in stores like this, and believe me I’ve been in many. The unique thing about here is the friendly atmosphere, and quality clothing and other goods sold, at reasonable prices. Here are some photos I made to give you a taste. If you are in Rockingham County NC, I encourage you to visit Madison, as I did this past week, leaving with a just purchased nice flannel shirt and fleece vest. I’m ready for winter now!
Once again, I found a new and very unique photo opportunity in a location I have visited many times before. Madison, NC. It’s a small town located just south of the Virginia State line in the Piedmont Region, and was once a hub for the tobacco trade. Today, many stores remain open and owners work to restore a look of “history” as well as a uniqueness in the manner in which they present their products. Madison, unlike some other small towns in this area which I have visited and photographed many times, retains a vibrancy which attracts local citizens and visitors like me.
I parked and began to wander around a street looking for photo scenes that caught my eye. I liked the two flags, for example, which I saw in front of Madison Dry Goods, so I made a photo and then moved on. Returning later to my car, the owner of the dry goods store (Richard) stepped out of the front door and introduced himself, asking if I was enjoying myself making photos, and would I like to come inside to see what he had to offer. Wow, am I glad I accepted his kind and sincere offer! What follows are several images of the inside of his store. It is literally chocked full of things which many photographers love to see. On top of that, he has restored a portion of the building to the 1905 hotel it once was. In the restoration he has placed numerous original antiques all designed to give the visitor a feel for what it would have been like staying at the hotel. But, I want to save that portion of my photo presentation to a follow-on post.
One thing about living where we do in this region of the United States which I enjoy is the friendliness and hospitality of the small town “folks” we interact with, who are more than willing to become “friends’ no matter the length of time of the interaction. If you are interested, I recommend checking out Madison Dry Goods web site. Very interesting indeed.
This early 1800’s cabin located in Madison, NC was about lost to decay by the 1960’s, until a local citizen took charge and developed a plan to save it. That plan took about thirty years to complete but it was done via major renovation both inside and out. Today the historic home is open periodically for visitors to view various items on display inside, looking as it might have looked when it was occupied by the Jordan family. My objective in making these two images was first to show the full view, then a composed close-up, which I wanted to break into thirds, with the window in the middle third. This is a technique you may want to try in your camera work, noting that the second image would have to go with the first so as to identify to the viewer what the close-up is.
