A handful of "then" shots of the Lackey Building; a remnant of a once saloon...

 turned into a pharmacy...

The Lackey Building has been begging for attention. It now knows that its steadfast patience is paying off.  Soon, it will be totally restored with improvements to make it better than ever.  An investment that will benefit the owner and the community.  One of several which will indeed bring vitality and pride back to the close knit southern town.  What could be sweeter?

Some of the pics strike me as poignant for some reason.  I guess its the romantic in me thinking of days gone by before my time, when truly things were much much simpler.  It could also be because I'm such a pie lover!  Ha! 'Cause I sure would have loved to have a slice of homemade pie from way back when.  How about you?  And yes, for those of you who've caught on to it, I saw much beauty even in the areas that needed some serious hands on loving care.  All kinds of beauty.  But, to say I'm loving the new and improved version taking it back to its aesthetic glory of yesterday, is an understatement.   

Rather than sharing photos individually, I'm embedding a very quick slide show.  My original plans were to post an accompanying slide collection of "now" shots, too.  But, my hopes are for someone or someone(s) visiting the upcoming Seaboard Festival might just be inclined to snap a few pics to share here.  If not, be sure to look up at the fine detail work that's been done to re-create and restore missing pieces.  If you're anything like me, you'll find it all too too amazing! 

Note re. the period chalkboard like signage.  It was created for the movie Billy Bathgate, which was filmed in Hamlet and released in 1991.

Meet my friends, the charcoal wall and its buddy, the weed...

Picking up from my October 25, 2010 entry...
Below will be a few more illustrations of how I see beauty in the imperfections from Main Street Park.  For those of you who aren't local and may not know about Hamlet Crossing, it's the physical "X" railroad North, South, East & West crossroads directly in front of the HHD&M (Hamlet Historic Depot & Museum). 

Depending on the weather conditions -- blue skies to cloud cover.  Or, whether we have a front moving in or out.  Or, the time of day such as dawn, dusk, and in between, to long past midnight (if the Amtrak arrives late on its way to Florida) my glimpses of beauty aren't set in stone.  They are ever changing.  However, I do have some favorites that once they captured my attention, I was hooked.  And since, they've gone on to become captivating to me.  Meaning, I take photos of those things often.  I'm using the word "things" very loosely here.  There are certain trees that I take photos of seasonally and whenever Steve and I go down to the HHD&M simply to sit outside and watch and wait for trains to come by.  There's also a particular RR Crossing sign I'm quite fond of and the natural lighting effects upon it can change it from being washed in pastels to reflecting the sun right in my eyes.  Also, the Hamlet Crossing Equipment Building reflective abilities and position intrigue me.  Of course, my fave of all is my heart building, none other than the Depot itself.  And along with the Depot, the tracks running in each direction.  But, one thing that's probably the most unique and may seem curious to others that I could call a fave is the outer wall of the old falling down charcoal building behind the Tornado Building.  Or, perhaps better described as the Main Street Park perspective of what's left of that old building.  To me, it makes for a great back drop, or canvas.  Plus, I respect that it once had a life and gave people jobs.  It had visitors.  It maybe even had friends.  I study that building and look at how the lighting of the day plays upon it.  I study that building and look closely at the foliage, shrubs, and plants growing along its base.  I look at the tangle of vines on the south end of it, and the weeds growing on top of it.  Call me odd, but I actually like those weeds and am thankful they are out of reach for grounds maintenance care takers to remove them.

During the summer months there is a marvelous vine with vibrant orange flowers which attracts butterflies and dragonflies like crazy.  One afternoon the dragonfly population was so busy I hopped around like frog trying to snap as many photos as I could of them.  But, there is a lone weed standing sentry on top of the wall since I first began visiting Main Street Park frequently.  Seriously, God only knows how longs its been there.  It's there in fair weather and bad weather.  Except for it's top, it's roots are unmovable.  Boy, can't a lesson be learned from the weed right there?

I've watched my friend, the weed, bend to and fro in the wind.  I don't know, maybe it's roots are holding that wall together?  Ya think?  It's only a guess, because, much of the rest of that building, contrary to the buildings along Main Street, didn't hold tight.  Possibly, because it's been out of sight and out of mind for so so very long.  I've also wondered if its counterparts, meaning the other building nearby, have made it feel jealous, and sad because it's not getting much attention by its owner.  I hope it knows how fond I am of it, in spite of its condition.

 This weed is very hardy. 
It's growing in brick and mortar at the very top of a relic of a 15' wall.  

 This weed is strong and resilient.  It asks for nothing at all from man to live, not just exist,

because God is its creator and caretaker. 

 This weed is stubborn.  Blue skies, clouds, rain, sleet, hail or snow.  Temps from 110+  degrees with varying heat indexes to temps so cold the ground lays frozen.  Yet, it steadfastly survives.  Which is stronger?  The weed, or the wall?

God made weeds virtually to be thorns in our sides and tough to be done with forever.  This one figured that out and lives single.  It's chosen to live high enough out of reach to keep itself safe.  It's solitary, yet not alone, Main Street Park and all it encompasses gives it company.

As I've mentioned before and will again and again, much in life comes down to perspective.  How you look at things, literally, and how you focus your attention.  A few example of perspective will follow that I snapped this past Monday and Tuesday.  Only one is an exception -- an aerial I took a year ago last summer above the building.  You'll notice that I've cropped my weed friend to show it off.  I bet, to look at it, you would never suspect it sits atop a wall of a caved in building.

 Not quite in its entirety & the Autumn is definitely leaving its mark upon the foilage and   little tree.  Shadows were cast by lots of moving clouds yesterday, yet, there is a bright ray of sun beaming through and down on the grasses and Liriope -- that means something to me, sort of a like a ray of hope.

I have a thing for the fan.  I've watched it spin again and again.  A very welcome sight on a hot as Hades day, as it signals a welcomed breeze.

This south end of the wall or corner is very hard to see due to the overgrowth of fuscia colored blooms, various greens, and yellows.  Some of the yellow is actually that bright Monday sun.

 I believe nature's cosmetic touches to the old building (that could be easily seen as an eyesore) actually help the remnant feel better about itself.  Any architect will tell you a building has a heart, a soul and a personality.  This one is no different.  It's just neglected and partially in pieces.

 Blooms deserve to be appreciated whereever they grow,
even if they're hiding something easily considered unsightly. 

Now, this is what the wall is hiding all of us from,
amazing how appealing the wall suddenly becomes?  

I didn't know exactly what was hiding until my husband and I first flew about 300' above the area on July 25, 2009.  I was already a fan of the wall, but from that point on, my appreciation of it and affection for it grew.  However, cropped with what remains of the building chopped out, it almost looks like a cool abstract painting to me.  How about to you?

To me, the building is happier with its caved in roof.  It can breath again.  It can hear all of the sounds in Main Street Park from the trains to the birds singing.  It can see dawn to dusk and the heavens above.  It can watch Hamlet's annual Fourth of July fireworks and the Christmas tree lighting.  It's no longer closed from the inside in darkness, nor shut in.  And one day, it will have a life again.  Possibly, not as it once did.  It could be something new will be put upon it's foundation, since that is truly the part that has stood the test time.  Or, it could mean something brand new is built from scratch, or the park is expanded where it once stood.  Regardless, just so you all know, as politely as I can say it, the City of Hamlet is not responsible for its condition.

At the moment, my friends, the charcoal wall and its buddy, the weed are anxiously anticipating one of its favorite events, the 27th Annual Seaboard Festival in less than 3 days!  Meet, too!  How about you?

Next up will be some "thens" or "befores" of the Lackey Building, so anyone attending the festivities on Saturday can have a fresh memory of just how far the building has come, as the hands of time have been turned back. Tip... just remember to look up!

Lastly, a comment about my photos.  This is something I've repeated again and again on Project Rewire (which I'll be picking up again very soon).  I don't add effects to my pictures.  On several of the shots above there appears to be no sky.  That's a brightness issue due to the sun.  I could add a sky, but then it wouldn't be exactly real.  Make sense?  Hope so!

As the righthand side panel states...

"I see beauty in the imperfections for without the contrast against perfection, how would we ever recognize unblemished beauty when we see it?

Take time to look up into the heavens and in between the sky and the tree tops and roof tops. There are blessings to be seen and captured. I take comfort in watching the clouds during the day and the starry night skies. Something I can always share with my loved ones far away, is the sky. My view may be a bit different, but whenever I look up, I know that a heavenly sight is above them, too.

Metaphorically, it's important to look up in spite of whatever life throws at us. Much in life comes down to attitude and perspective."

A view looking west up from 2 Main Street, Hamlet - October 24, 2010 - 4:35 p.m.

At the moment, I'm going to focus on perspective.  Not how you view things, but how *I* do so you can get to know me.  And secondly, because I don't know how *you* view things, yet.  Plus, views are better shared in first person as they create the foundation for common ground to be discovered and maintained.  We are all different, so what captures my attention, may not be anywhere near what captures yours.  Like most photogs, when I take pictures, often I'm selfishly into focusing in on what appeals to me -- what my eyes see and/or what catches my fancy.  I like snagging details others may not see immediately.  Or, happen too quickly to be noticed.  I like taking rapid progressive shots of movement, but detest being hampered by programed burst shot settings.  So, I don't use them.  I like taking still shots and waiting for nature to cooperate with me is no biggie.

I have a handful of favorite subjects.  Of course, it goes without saying that one is Main Street, Hamlet and along with it, its evolution to rebirth.  As well as the landmarks and surrounding areas close in proximity.  From the Hamlet Historic Depot & Museum to Main Street Park and Tornado Building to points North, South, East or West.  This could mean the tracks, or the trains traveling along the tracks, or Hamlet Crossing, itself.

 
I don't at all claim to be a photographer by any stretch of the imagination.  I don't even consider it to be a hobby.  Yet, it is an extension of me.  I don't care at all for the confines of composition.  I actually enjoy having a skewed rebellious perspective.  Meaning what I see as beauty some may just shake their heads and wonder "is she crazy?".   And to be perfectly honest, my brain the way it works now -- or doesn't work now, has a difficult time hanging on to camera settings and such, so I don't even try to any longer.  In a nutshell, I just have at it!  Having said all that though, I enjoy taking pictures and sharing them.  Snapping photos is a very personal and actually comforting activity for me, because whenever I'm looking through a viewfinder, I feel better than my usual normal.  It's like laughter, it's quite good medicine and has literally helped re-hab and rewire areas in my brain that needed some tweaking to make connections work more cohesively.  Hopefully, as the community embraces this blog and partners with me, we'll get to see what captures *your* attention.  Whether it be in photos, or in other avenues, my hope is for it to be viewed as a comfortable safe haven to share.  In the meantime, the blogging is up to me.

So, back to my take on "perspective"  using late yesterday afternoon as a prime example.  I'll start off using an interesting photographic object lesson on the visual merits of Kudzu.  Tell me what you see.  In this case do you see it as the invasive "vine that ate the South"?  Or, do you see it's cosmetic attributes similar to that of a green vegetative snow like I do?

Kudzu covered trees, weeds, fencing is akin to snow effects,
but just lasts much much longer.

Something to ponder?  Yes, no... maybe so?  It's part of what I pondered once the Kudzu captured my eye and caught my fancy, yet again.  Admittedly, I went seeking various contrasts and examples of seeing "beauty in the imperfections".  So, when we arrived late yesterday afternoon at the HHD&M around 4:30 p.m. instead of our usual popping our heads in to say "hi" thing, Steve and I along with our most recent rescue Springer, tiny Roxy, meandered around the surrounding area.  I wanted see what touches Autumn was making to the area.  I had my little flying point 'n shoot camera with me, as I often do, and the conditions couldn't have been more perfect for snapping photos.  The sky was a vivid gorgeous Carolina blue.  The clouds were just a glorious mixture of white fluffies with light dove gray to dark almost steel gray hues.  The Autumn sun was beaming brilliantly creating diagonal rays across the southern sky and brightly reflecting off of Main Streets' old timey rooftop "skyline".  It dappled through the trees as it danced upon various weeds and expansive Kudzu growth giving them a nice dose of vibrant natural highlights.  Nearly blinding at times when not tempered with the sky blues, and earthly yellows and greens.

One of my most favorite subjects for Summer and Autumn are the old "T" telephone/power poles that run behind the backside of Hamlet.  I hadn't spent any time this past Summer enjoying them, so they were a welcome sight.  To me, the Kudzu adds a lovely lush lacy trim to the cross like structures which never fail to remind me of Calvary.  They are also subtle reminders to me of hope and faith -- that Hamlet is anything but God forsaken.

 The dying leaves act as a natural intricate frame
surrounding the Kudzu cross in its entirety.

 The Kudzu cross looks small here,
yet it's not quite overshadowed, by its friend the big tree. 

 The Kudzu cross has an important job in stringing we people together upon its lines.

 To me, the poles look much less intrusive against the beauty of the sky blanketed and laced in Kudzu cover.

Next time you catch glimpse of one a Kudzu covered pole, 

you may see it with new eyes.  Or, maybe not...

In closing...

Steve and Roxy did a lot sitting and waiting, while I did a lot of wandering and snapping.  Every few minutes, or so, I'd take a break and sit on a bench beside them.  The benches  up and down Main Street, and in front of the HHD&M are placed conveniently and were very much appreciated by we three.  Give them a try some time as you ponder "seeing beauty in the imperfections".

Needless to say, I had a lovely time, looking up, looking over, looking through, looking in between, looking up close and, of course, beyond, too.  How do you know when you've looked beyond?  It's when you see things that would normally be considered unattractive, or down right ugly.  However, with the right lighting, the right angle, the right perspective, or framing, their beauty strikes you out of the blue, and perfection can be seen.

I have a few more examples of yesterday, which I'll be sharing very soon, so you're invited to stay tuned.

Happy 83rd Birthday, Mr. Riley Lee Watson!

God bless you this, day, Riley and every day!  If you only knew how many lives you've touched over your lifetime in the place you call home, known as Hamlet.  If you only knew how many smiles you've given to others.  Or, how many hearts you've warmed with your stories.  Personally, I don't believe I can count that high.  But, suffice it to say, more than enough to populate the town of Hamlet, and then some.  The only person I can truly speak for is myself and when we met at Hamlet Crossing almost two years ago now, you told me that you were afraid you'd break my camera, as you pointed your finger at it.  To which I replied, "that will never happen, but one thing has definitely happened, and that's that you've changed my life..." and boy did you!  When Steve and I first saw you saunter out to the equipment buildings perched almost on top of Hamlet Crossing, my heart literally leaped because I knew you were a for real "trainman" as my husband, cousin and I call fondly call them.  I'd not caught a live one yet, and there you were!  My very first.  You were my dad and my grandfather both rolled into one.  Both, needless to say, I sorely miss.  You were fully attired in your railroad outfit with a Seaboard Airline's cap atop your scarred and balding head!  The scar, of course, traces back to one of your personal stories of life on the railroad.  I'd share it, but only you can share your stories, like the one and only you do!  I walked up to you very deliberately and you looked a tiny bit suspicious until I made mention of the Seaboard Airline Railroad merger with Atlantic Coastline in '67.  Your eyes began to twinkle then because that was your tip off that I had not just railroad roots, but "Seaboard" roots.

Easily and immediately we realized that we had a common bond which covered some tracks of time built upon a love for Seaboard Airline Railroad, and of course, upon trains.  At that point, you went into the very first story you ever shared with me.  It wasn't about the railroad, but about the first time you met your beautiful bride, Willie Mae, and how you'd walk from about where were standing to the area nearby the water tower east of Hamlet.  What a walk you made frequently to court your lady love.

Before we parted company I told you to consider yourself "adopted" and you appeared to be pleased by the notion of it.  Within a few days we'd meet your better half and she not only greeted us warmly, but accepted we strangers, like she'd known us all of our lives.  We spent what should have been only a few short minutes in your cozy living room looking at pictures she wanted to share with us.  It was such an honor to be received so comfortably.  Little did any of us know that we'd never have the opportunity to tell her goodbye before she went to be with the Lord.  Now, it's all very poignant in my memory banks and I only can imagine what it's like for you and your family.  And speaking of your family, both of your children have been very kind and very warm to my family and I.         

On both sides we've had some life circumstances which have been challenging, but you, dear sir, much more than I. You face each day without uttering a complaint.  You put one foot in front of the other and live to love those closest to you.  You continue to put smiles on faces.  You continue to warm hearts with your stories.  You continue to be an inspiration, Riley, just by being you!

May you be blessed in your coming year with unexpected joys and delights from above.  And may you continue to reap the benefits from all of the good you've sown over your lifetime and continue to sow in Hamlet and all points beyond.

Here's a little reminder slideshow of the day I met you... (Note that there are 49 photos in this embedded slideshow & sometimes Picasa lags a little, please bear through it.)



Now, to get you on Facebook and the net!  I know just the person and her name begins with "L".

The story behind this blog...

Anyone who walks or drives down Main Street Hamlet, North Carolina, most assuredly can see it, and certainly, with or without rose colored glasses.  A new improved City of Hamlet is obviously emerging.  Scaffolding can now be seen up and down Main Street as a few buildings are getting a long awaited face lift to renew them to their youthful appearance of a century plus 9 years ago, or thereabouts.

On the historic Lackey Building, craftsmen are delicately casting missing pieces of ornate trim work, as if they were highly skilled and talented plastic surgeons. Their handiwork is filling in spots top to bottom which were lost to decay over a century long and very slow process.  Amazing brand new parts have been recreated and cast in fiberglass, rather than in mortar or concrete.  Which I've been assured by one of the experts on the job will way out last the originals.  The old facade is being renewed with touches like new eyebrows being placed again atop windows which had been hidden forever to re-dress them up as they deserve. And filigree-like missing trimmings are being crafted and painted in a lovely gold finish to live side by side perfectly filling in the gaps to their original counterparts.  They fit so perfectly, it appears as if they were painstakingly handwritten in calligraphy.

Painting is also ongoing to take the buildings back to rich period-ish color schemes.  Honestly, I literally teared up with excitement and joy when I first saw the work being done on the old Lackey Building.  I'd visualized it being renewed for some time now, and have watched the progress over the past five months.  But, to see it coming alive again, really touched me.  Plus, what I visualized paled in comparison to the real thing.  The only glimpse I'd ever seen of it in the beauty of its heyday up to that point was in black and white photos from long ago.  And my childhood memories aren't much different than the way it looked a few short weeks ago.  That building has always captivated me and I've taken many pictures of it during the course of the past couple of years.

To some residents and passerbys, it may appear that the renovation of Hamlet began a year ago last summer when the new planters, and their partners "the benches" were installed.  But, evidence of the rehabilitation and preservation of Main Street Hamlet was first seen back in 2001 when a temporary railroad station was put up by the City of Hamlet and Amtrak to take care of passengers during the prep and move across the tracks and restoration of the town's beloved "1900" Queen Anne Victorian train station.  At that time the visionaries saw the badly needed station restoration as the catalyst to spur economic development which would one day put Hamlet back on the map.  As is always with true visionaries, the future was vividly seen years earlier, but such an endeavor takes time, patience and intricate planning.  Finally, metaphorically the stars aligned and a plan of action was put into place with very deliberate steps taken to make it happen.  Baby steps turned into major strides.  The very first glimpse of this phase in my mind began when those new planters and benches popped up along Main Street a year ago this past summer.  It was at that very time I actually came up with the idea for this blog, its name, and grabbed it on Blogger.  It's been sitting waiting silently for me to give it life, as I've been observing both the subtle and more obvious steps to transform Hamlet.  And to be boldly honest, waiting for the right dose of inspiration.  Well, that happened very recently when a delightful kindred spirit graciously crossed paths with me.  Up until then, it's been a period of watching, and waiting with oodles of anticipation.  Then, the Lackey Building's facade restoration progress further signaled that it's the right time to birth this blog.

Now, the above is only part of the story behind what has compelled me to author such a blog about Hamlet.  There are elements that make Hamlet's renovation very personal to me, which I shall share now...

Since I was a small child, Hamlet, North Carolina has been a meaningful place to me and more than just a special town.  It holds a piece of my heart where fond memories live of loved ones gathering from all across the country at my grandparents home.  Back then, it was almost magical.  It holds memories of riding trains from the Seaboard Airline Railroad Station in Portsmouth, Virginia to Hamlet, North Carolina.  My mother and I were always greeted by my granddaddy and uncle along the tracks with flashlights in hand to swoop us both off the train during the wee dark hours of the morning after midnight.  The passenger car we traveled in was known as the "Tidewater" car and was always the last car, so it never quite made it into the train station area.  We'd see my uncle's car with headlights brightly beaming first and in a matter of a couple of minutes, off we were whisked to their home.  Needless to say, it's been quite sad to lose a good part of our family here and also to see Hamlet's steady decline over several decades considering the memories and stories it has collectively held for my family.   

A few years ago after Epilepsy struck me, I was at a place where I'd lost parts of myself.  At that time to help re-tap into the core of "me", I set out to reconnect with the generation of cousins that exists within the generations of cousins/kids my mom's siblings had.  With eight children in her family, the stair step ages covers over fifteen years.  I was the only girl of six kids born into a bit of baby boom of "boyness".  A period of about three years in the early 1950s.  The me I was, was gone and it was tough adjusting to the new me and finding my way.  I realized early on that I could no longer rely on my past accomplishments to boost my confidence, or gauge myself by my former capabilities, skills, or talents without suffering the consequences of feeling defeated.  I had to figure out whom I was now.  And certainly, I couldn't gauge myself based on a number of neurologists' opinions, diagnostics and failed treatments.  It wasn't "as if" my life had changed drastically overnight -- it indeed did.  A great deal of my independence and freedom, went away along with it.  The essence and spirit which makes "me" me needed some reminders of its roots.  And the experience of reconnecting with my cousins (who are really more like the brothers I never had) gave me some of those key reminders.  As always, my goal "then" when Epilepsy struck me and "now" as I'm still adjusting to it, is to never allow it to totally overtake me.  This is a thread on Project Rewire I come back to again and again, but here more or less will be the evidence, that it hasn't overtaken me.  There are times, admittedly, I must give into it, but good things can come of it.  Monday and Tuesday of this week were such days, but to help me push past and through, they became the right days to finally work towards bringing this blog out of hiding.

Since Epilepsy struck I've depended on the Lord to direct me in unique ways to help rehab myself, and give me a purpose again.  One thing I did a little over two years ago now was to begin blogging to help restore some pesky word retrieval and vocabulary issues.  There is no need to go through all of that "here".  It's on Project Rewire, but a part I've never shared there, I'll share here because it's part of my Hamlet ties story.

So, back to the upside of brain mis-fires and reconnecting with my cousins, most definitely, the reconnecting has been a blessing to me.  There is one in particular where we share some like interests, and passions.  Heck, if there were a twin version of cousins, we'd possibly be an example of it, sans the oil mixing with water boy cousin vs. girl cousin thing.  Around the time I began Project Rewire, I'd reconnected with him and within a a few months, I found myself reconnected with Hamlet, too.  For many years I'd been too busy with my career and responsibilities to find time to do anything interesting locally, such as walk down Main Street Hamlet like I used to do with my granddaddy.  Or, even visit the newly restored Hamlet Depot.  The closest I'd gotten to it was trips to the old Hamlet Post Office, where I'd climb the worn steps, remembering the days I'd go with he or my uncle to pick up mail from their P.O. Box "128", which the Monroes had for what seemed like forever.  (Isn't if funny how short for "forever" truly is sometimes?)  Then, one day out of blue I decided it was time to snap some photos of the Depot and surrounding area to show my cousin how things had changed since we were little kids and his last visit here in 1982.
 

Dusk was falling, but a light turned on inside me.

He had to put up with my photos, because in comparison to the shots he takes, as a more perfection oriented photographer, mine probably made his eyes sore.  However, the stories I began sharing captivated him to the point he actually said I should consider recording them one day.  Now, that was a compliment and an idea of epic proportions was birthed. It put a dream into our hearts, and him on to a new career path.

Anyway, it was a gorgeous Autumn afternoon for my husband, Steve's and my first visit there.  Much like it's been the past few days.  As I walked around the Depot building snapping photos, I was instantly enthralled and transported back in time by it.  I was also very much smitten by Main Street Park, as well as Main Street Hamlet.  But two simple things, brought me back to myself in a way I hadn't experienced since who knows when.
 
First, there's an area beside the Depot where "memory" bricks have been placed in tribute to various individuals and loved ones.  Many of which were railroad people; my granddaddy and uncle Monroe, included.

Just seeing their names hit me like a ton of bricks and reminded me of my railroad roots.  But, what hit me like a lightening bolt was standing on the railroad tracks not too far from where the two used to meet the train my mom and I journeyed upon from the Seaboard railroad Portsmouth, Virginia to attend our family reunions.  It was as if both had scooped me up like they once had to remind me of the strength that resides in my mom's side of the family.  All of we women are very strong individuals.  That strength along with the strength that comes from my dad's side, in joining my strength, and the strength the Lord gives me, gave me even more reason to push past and through.

It's been a journey of a different type since then, and I've learned some hard lessons along the way.  Yet, I continue to remain smitten with Hamlet which is obvious to those who know me around here.  And the same can be said of my husband, Steve.  When I reconnected my heart to the Depot and to Hamlet, it inspired a fondness for both within him, too.  He loves train watching now, as much as I do.  So, it's become another special thing we share in common. 

Now, as a Depot Historic Depot volunteer and one of its newest board members, I'm filled with enthusiasm.  I'm not at all about what "can't be done", but about "what can be done" and I see a wonderful future for the HHD&M as a key attraction to bring more and more visitors and tourists to Main Street Hamlet. 

As on my Project Rewire blogging endeavor of late, I've had to go backwards to catch up to now, more than a time or tow.  That's partially because I actually have more of a life now than I have had in a very long time.  Well, the same will hold true to a certain degree in All Aboard Hamlet, too.  There will be a key difference.  Some of this blog will reflect how the hands of time are aesthetically being turned back as historic preservation efforts and projects to restore the City of Hamlet to its original beauty of yesteryear are being completed.  And, as a community oriented blog, my hope and prayers are that others within will freely contribute their stories and memories of their heartstring ties to Hamlet.  Those that live here, or elsewhere.  I also know without a doubt, I'm not the only one challenged by an illness, or disease, but persevering to be triumphant with ties to Hamlet.  Such stories will always be welcome here, too.  On another note, I'm very open to sharing this blog to promote the talents of locals who may not have a web site, blog, or other "net" avenue to show case their various "art" mediums.  In addition, if a fun event is happening in Hamlet, why not call "all aboard" here?

Seaboard Festival 2009 - A Community Working & Having Fun Together

I've deliberately kept the format very simple to read and to encourage contributors.  Please feel free to email me at the address indicated on my profile should you have questions or have something you would like to contribute here.  I can also very easily be found on Facebook under "Jeanne Holland Newton" and at our brand new Hamlet Historic Depot & Museum Facebook group.

Thanks to all for being first readers of All Aboard Hamlet.  Hope you make it a habit.  Please do consider following and sharing to make this a successful community blog.

Next entry will spot light the birthday of a very special Hamlet Historic Depot & Museum volunteer. 

And note, this blog is very much a work in progress.  I may be tweaking the color scheme and settings, as well as adding content and images to the right side panel in the coming days.