The Primo Hillsbro Snow Show
For this Christmas (December 26th) of 2010 we in Hillsborough, North Carolina, received 5 inches of snow. So as quickly as was feasible, I went walking.
So walk with me on this virtual tour around a beautiful snow covered small town of North Carolina.
I'm beginning at the corner of Churton Street and Nash Extension.
This corner is home to the Hillsborough municipal parking garage behind me.
To my left is the Weaver Street Market. This market is a sister store to the original Weaver Street Market that is on "Weaver Street" in Carrboro, North Carolina.
Winter Song - Sara Bareilles/Ingrid Michaelson- Music Video
As I stand facing Churton Street and the Weaver Street Market, I do an about face and walk across the bridge over the Eno River.
Immediately, I'm looking down on "Earth".
I can see the limbs, trees, and ground below.
An Ode To The Eno
When the world was,
Perhaps, in its prime,
There were an old people,
Of prehistoric time.
And now this once strong,
Occaneechie Band,
Has almost been swallowed,
By the European man.
Let’s go down to the Eno.
Let’s sit on the bank,
And watch the flow,
And imagine where the Eno will go.
Just like the people,
We ask of the flow,
Where does the Eno,
River and people go.
Will you cease to exist,
When you’re watered down?
Will your spirit be lost?
Where will the spirit be found?
If you’re taken into the Sea,
Will the Eno cease to be?
Only adding to other streams,
Until there are no Eno dreams.
But in Alamance County,
There’s a little civilization.
known as the Occaneechie Band,
of the Saponi Nation.
Let’s sit on the bank of the Eno,
And watch that Eno River flow,
Let the Eno River echo,
Peaceful passage for the Eno.
~Micky Dee~
So, I've walked across the river on a pretty bridge and returned on the opposite side of the bridge. Now we'll continue toward downtown Hillsborough.
As I walk north on Churton Street., on the east side of the road is a pretty clearing.
There are many "Historical Markers" on this walk. One of the first I see is regarding a papermill which was one of the first in the country.
No- the "snow road crew" did not "wine up" at the Hillsborough Wine Company.
Above is the rear of the Orange County Courthouse.
This is the entrance to the Orange County Courthouse.
This is the east corner of Churton and King Street.
Dachshunds love the snow.
Nice restaurants and shops adorn Churton St. and the area.
Tupelo's is on the Corner, The Wooden Nickel, the Gulf Rim, and gift shops continue.
Oh yeah! We have a chocolate factory/shoppe right here!!!
I admit I have a $20 a month "almond bark" habit.
The Hillsborough Museum is right here.
I turn left here onto West Tryon Street.
Immediately there is a beautiful church.
Chanticleer - In the Bleak Mid-Winter
The church has a beautiful graveyard as well.
The forms of the head-stones, statues, and obelisks have their very unique aura when the world is blanketed with snow.
Let's take a little excursion.
No Other Love Will Do
It’s a very pretty place.
It’s so quiet here.
Did you whisper?
Can you be so near?
That was another cold day.
That day, that you went away.
I thought I’d drown in tears.
And now, has it been twenty years?
I may as well be;
In that cold ground,
As to be the walking dead,
And stumbling around.
I just miss you.
I can’t love another girl.
So I walk and talk,
And act like part of this world.
There’s not a hand as warm as yours.
There isn’t hair that has your smell.
There isn’t a smile, that’s near your smile,
Not as far as I can tell.
My friends tell me that there soon will be,
Another love down here for me.
But no one holds my hand like you.
And no – no other love will do.
Did you whisper?
Just the wind?
Oh my God,
I miss your grin.
No – there is no-one to woo.
And no - no other love will do.
And if eons I must wander through,
Then eons I will wait for you.
No one can make my words come true.
And no – no other love will do.
And though our love is eons overdue,
There is no true love but you.
~Micky Dee~
Here's a friendly Hillsbro!
I'm still walking on West Tryon Street.
I love the contrasts of this building.
I llove the different shapes, especially as they are highlighted in white powder.
If it were not for the snow I would be tempted to get in a little "stair-master" work!
I love the angles.
At this "old county building" there is an intersection with Hassel Street.
A left turn will shorten the "walk around".
This part of town is laid out in "squares" - mostly.
So- making two lefts here or further up would take me back to the center of town where I started.
Chimney Sweep
What lives in this forest deep?
All that lives appears to sleep.
Not a squirrel or a deer to leap.
Not a single chirp or a cheep.
Not one creature makes a peep.
Neath the soil things seep and creep.
And what, may I ask, will the new spring reap?
And then again, what will this winter keep?
And though every home is a snowy heap,
Business is good for the chimney sweep.
~Micky Dee~
A left on Occaneechie Street or a left on Nash Street can shorten the route.
A left turn will take me to West King Street and further to Margaret Lane.
I continue on my straight path on West Tryon.
Eventually I will run out of sidewalk.
But on a day like today, traffic on the roads is no problem for me.
West Tryon has become Latimer Street.
Up ahead I can see Hayes Street.
I'll take a left on Hayes and soon take a left on West King.
A short walk on West King and I turn right on Holt Street.
I now turn left on Webb Street.
Webb brings me to Nash Street and I cross Nash as West Margaret Lane begins.
I love Margaret Lane.
You can see the neighbors protect this tree whose roots protrude into the lane.
Who Are The Souls Who Sleep Here?
Who are the souls who sleep here?
These are souls so Dear!
Unknown Souls are buried ahead,
Sweet souls too poor to mark their dead.
Listen and you can hear the sound,
Of beautiful beloved neath the ground.
People of color, lives of toil,
Lie unknown, beneath the soil.
Graves without markers, but not without love.
And every name, is written above.
~Micky Dee~
There's a snow-ball fight ahead and I'm out of ammo.
Cabbage Patch Park is at the corner of Margaret Lane and Occaneechie.
Complete with a water fountain for the pets.
I love Margaret Lane. It's perfect for walking and bike riding.
Margaret Lane has quite a few stop signs and makes car traffic slow.
Folks in a hurry take West King which is wider with sidewalks.
More beautiful woods right in the center of town.
I could take Margaret straight and shorten my walk but I want to see the church.
So, I turn left onto Wake Street.
I'm going to turn onto West King Street for the beautiful homes nearby.
As I look further up Wade Street, I see a skier enjoying the snow.
To my left is a grand home!
I've turned right and I'm walking east on West King toward Churton.
I'm only walking a block or so to Churton but there's still a lot to see.
Across the street is the old hotel and it's getting a face-lift.
Just up ahead is "Cup of Joe" coffee shop which is right next door to a French pastry shop.
And we're back to Churton!
Don't forget pastries, coffee, and just around the corner is Mathew's Chocolate!
There is much more beauty and interesting things to see.
This is the short walk for sure.
I take my right past quaint shops and restaurants.
It must be dinner time somewhere!
So I've returned to the Weaver Street Market (that isn't on Weaver Street here).
The Weaver Street Market is a "co-op" with many owners.
They have great food and very often host "music on the grass".
This has been a walk of about two miles.
The snow was very pleasant!
I'll bet there are walks just like this near you that you should write a story about.
Show us your pictures. Let us walk with you.
God bless!
The map above has the "pin" at the beginning. However, Nash Extension is a new street. The Weaver Street Market is new, and the municipal parking garage is new. So- these things, and especially "Nash Street Extension", are not on the map.