We were visiting our son and family in Charlotte the other day, and on a rainy morning, not having anything on our agenda, we did what any other person with time on their hands, in that position, would do.
We decided to visit some old courthouses.
We picked out two towns that were in close proximity to our base. After all two old buildings are plenty enough fun for one day. Should not overdo on excitement at my age.
First to Statesville. Had a courthouse address for OnStar and arrived at a modern building off the main street. It was the "new" courthouse, and, not to waste an opportunity for enlightenment, we went in to find out two things.
1. Where were the rest rooms?
2. Where was the old courthouse?
"Down the hall to your right. You can't miss them."
OK, we are good on that, now how would we find the old courthouse?
"Two red lights south, turn left on Center Street, up the hill and it will be on your left", the deputy at the medal detector told us.
Following her directions to the letter, we went up into the center of town. But we did not see it. We turned around and looked again as we eased past the storefronts of the town. No luck this time either, so we turned around again, and I parked the car in a spot outside a coffee shop.
Mayre wanted coffee anyway, and I could ask for new directions.
"Coffee will be ready in just a minute and if you look out the front window, you will see the courthouse right across the street."
Sure enough it was, and it was.
I delivered the coffee back to the car and crossed the street to take some close ups.
That done, I reentered the coffee shop, the owner was still the only one around, and asked her if I could take a few shots through her front window.
While in the shop, she began telling me of a problem that the town fathers had because of some graffiti on a wall a couple of blocks down. She said they did not know what to do with it. It was against the law, but had become a tourist attraction, and people came from all around just to look at it.
"Maybe you could check it out as you leave town", she said.
Following her directions, we found Prince on the whitewashed brick wall of an old building.
Someone had done this one night, no one knew who the artist was, and while we sat in the parking lot, at least 5 other cars pulled in to take pictures.
The town's dilemma, paint the "work" out or capitalize on the unknown artist's skill.
I would place my bet that it will be there a long time.
And, if they could locate the artist, he, or she, might have a full time job with murals. Whoever it was, was good.
Who would have thought that an unknown artist could revitalize a downtown?
The cash register in the coffee shop was happy.
And if the trees in front of the courthouse could be trimmed back some, this town could have two great attractions.
Two problems solved and money in the bank.
Woo Woo
, tho' far-off hymn
