As with many small towns there is always a concern of keeping the downtown area vibrant and relevant in the age of shopping malls and superstores. Downtown associations, acting much as many homeowner associations, controlling and regulating building appearance and renovations to maintain consistency. Almost all stores and shops are private owner businesses mixed with small restaurants and legal/administrative offices. The goal of vibrancy is only partially successful especially in this economical downturn.
In this photo the stoplight, with the yellow caution light, is located on the main town square. You’ll find thousand of similar small towns in the southeastern part of the U.S. struggling to redefine themselves and remain a source of service and income to the local communities and governments.
As you can see the sun has yet to rise high enough to touch the street and only this one side of buildings have found the light. The other side of the street, which I was photographing from, still resides in deep shadow.
I love visiting and photographing small towns, and have a bit of a personal project of photographing train stations. I’m way overdue for a visit to Salisbury! There’s a lot of progress being made but the last few years have been especially tough.
I’ll let you know when I’m headed that way!
Hi Tom, I enjoy photographing small towns as well — actually I enjoy photographing older architecture in general. :-) If you haven’t photographed Salisbury’s Train Station yet it’s worth the trip. There’s also the NC Transportation Museum just a couple miles down the road at Spencer, a piece of railroad history as well. Yeah, let me know if you heading this way and I’d love to meet up with you.
beautiful composition
Thank-you, yz.
I think I’d like Salisbury. It looks to be just about the right size. Not real small – you know, the post office, gas station, 3 delapidated houses and a stop sign “small” – and definitely not too big. My kind of place.
But where the heck is everybody? No people and no traffic? Early Sunday morning or something?
Paul, no it’s not that type of small town for sure. Many would even say it’s medium sized but it seems small. I’m not from here originally and find it can be a little “boring.” However, it a short drive to a number of larger cities so there is a balance here.
This photo was take on a weekday morning at around 9am. The downtown area gets off to a slow start I guess…no cars or people to speak of. Nice for photographing it.
Around here, the new “thing” now is building outdoor malls that look like these small downtowns. I know its a struggle, but I hope these small downtown shops continue to survive.
Mark, they’ve experimented some with those shopping towns around here too. One about an hour from here has condos above all the shops and then additional condo’s closely surrounding the “downtown area.” I don’t believe it’s doing to well…overpriced and traffic/crowding issues.
They built some of those combo shops/condos around here also. I don’t think they are doing well either – mostly because of location. They are really tucked away. I think it is a neat idea for a small business owner, but they really need some high foot traffic areas.
A fine street picture. I like the time of day that partially lighted the buildings. We have the same problem in smaller towns around here.
Don, thanks. That morning sun is wonderful. I guess this issue is the same everywhere.
This is a beautiful shot, Earl, and I think it has a bit of historical significance. There are some restaurants here that have photos of the town from many years ago and I’m always fascinated with them. One of the pleasures of working at the Museum is that I get to look at a lot of old photos taken in this area that they have in their archives. I’m not sure if this is a project of yours, but it could well be.
Ken, thanks, great minds I guess. I was thinking of this as a long term project and have began collecting them in my gallery under projects. Still a work in progress of course. I always love seeing photo’s of what places looked like years ago. It sounds like a great benefit you have being able to look through the Museum’s photo archives.
That’s a fabulous image. I especially like how the golden light touches the buildings – those warm tones stand in great contrast with the cold blue hues in the shade. The architecture is very interesting and you also framed the scene with the tree on the right beautifully.
Hello. I am a blogger for a local Salisbury NC Realtor. We doing a downtown series. Could I please have your permission to use your photograph of Main Street depicted here? I will be sure to credit you as the photographer and indicate that you’ve given us the permission to use it!
Thanks!
Sue McHugh
Hi Sue,
You may certainly use this photo under the terms you described. Thanks for asking.
Earl