“All the stories I’ll ever need are right here on Main Street,” Robert Cormier once said. And I think that may be true. From my perch at the welcome desk of the Chamber of Commerce, I had a bird’s eye view of Farmville’s fantastic Main Street.
First thing in the morning, I would see business owners sweeping their front entrances, setting out the American flags that would wave in the wind under a clear blue sky, and saying “Good Morning,” as they called to their fellow merchants across the street. Another day had dawned and the time had come to open stores, sell merchandise, and provide services.
By 10:00 am, people started to file past my window on their way to the business of the day. I loved to look through the large picture window in the Chamber of Commerce building and watch life stream by as the sun shone, the breeze blew, and people populated our historic and vibrant downtown area. It reminded me of a book by Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, called And To Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street.
It’s about a young boy named Marco who watches what is happening on Mulberry Street, much like I did when I observed what was happening outside my window. When I’d see something interesting, I’d make note of it and think to myself, “And to Think I Saw It” …….. on my own Main Street.
In Seuss’ book, Marco’s father advises him to keep a look out for interesting things as he walks home from school. His exact words were: “Keep your eyelids up and see what you can see.” So Marco does. As he walks down Mulberry Street he sees a boring horse and wagon, and his wild imagination takes control. Instead of a horse, his mind conjures a zebra pulling a blue and gold chariot. He continues his walk and the things he sees become more fantastical, whimsical and outlandish in his mind.
Mulberry Street may have been a rather mundane road, but not Farmville’s fantastical Main Street. Imagination not withstanding, interesting things happened all the time.
For instance, when I looked out my window at the Chamber of Commerce, I would often see a young lady riding her bike. She would stop in various stores and then put her purchases in the wicker basket attached to the bike. But on one particular day, the one bike morphed into almost 1,000 bicycles! They came around the corner of Church Street, pedaled down Main Street, and eventually continued to Greenville as part of the North Carolina Mountain to Coast Bike Ride.
Participating in the awesome event and putting Farmville on the map, so to speak, merchants and shoppers alike stood on the street and cheered the bikers on their way. Dapper Dan’s Art and Antiques Gallery served as a haven of hospitality on that unusually hot October day as Dan and Joe served lemonade to the thirsty riders. Farmville exhibited the very characteristics that earned it the designation of “the friendliest town in the state” in the 1920’s. What a sight! And to think I saw it …..
On almost any given day, I would see people leave Farmville Pizza with a box or two of the authentic Sicilian specialty. Then one day, I actually saw someone come out of the restaurant carrying about a dozen pizza boxes that towered above his head. I’m sure he had his eyelids up but I still don’t know how he found his way safely to his car. And to think I saw it …..
Like Marco on Mulberry Street, I saw a horse and wagon too and a horse and carriage, and they weren’t boring at all. The horses sauntered up and down Main Street past historic buildings with no automobiles in sight. With even a little imagination, people could feel themselves transported back to Farmville circa late 1800’s.
Because of the softly falling snowflakes on a balmy 60-degree December evening, maybe people thought they were in a 21st century Hallmark movie. They were actually at the annual Taste of Farmville event where a conveniently placed snow machine provided the winter whimsy. The joyful scene earned Farmville’s designation in Our State Magazine in 2022 as “One of 5 North Carolina Towns That Belong in a Christmas Movie!” What a sight!
And to think I saw it on our own Main Street where stories of art and culture and music abound. Because it is located at the corner of creativity and commerce, our town is a unique universe of imagination and innovation. Farmville boasts one of the largest outdoor art galleries in eastern North Carolina where massive murals and “ghost signs” adorn the sides of historic buildings.
The “Find it First in Farmville” sign from the 1960’s still rings true today as Farmville Furniture anchors a Main Street filled with gift shops, a flower shop, three antique stores, a drug store and restaurants among many places of business. Across from Lanoca Coffee sits a pocket park with benches where people can sit and chat, eat a “brown bag” lunch or just enjoy the day. The H.B. Sugg mural provides the perfect backdrop.
Music, dance and drama can be found on Main Street at the art deco Paramount Theater. The lobby boasts the new Emily Monk Davidson Gallery. Just down the street is the Art Space that houses sculptures, paintings, pottery and photographs created by artists from eastern North Carolina. The beautiful space also houses the Chamber of Commerce where I sat at the welcome desk. It’s where the large picture window provided me with the opportunity to see the sights and learn the stories on Main Street.
It’s where I saw a big beautiful bouquet of multi-colored balloons being carried down the street by a grandfather and his little grandson, both wearing smiles from ear to ear. They were apparently on their way to surprise someone on this Carolina blue-sky day with the fluffy clouds and the sun shining bright in what could have been a springtime Hallmark movie scene. And with this fanciful Farmville image, this blog can end with the whimsical words of Dr. Seuss: “And that’s a story that no one can beat, when I say I saw it” …… on my own Main Street.
