Somerset, North Carolina

Pre-pandemic, and before North Carolina closed the border, I ventured down south seeking places of wonder.

Now that we're all free again to travel, I'll have to wander that away again.

Here's some work from a journey to Somerset in 2019.

I was on my way to Somerset, NC when I saw this. Had to pull off the highway and go down a dirt road but the light and symmetry of this fascinated me.

I think this was a “juke joint” or “barrelhouse.”

I was photographing this with the RB67 when a car pulled up to it, a woman gave me a glance, and entered the building. So, as I always do, I thought it’d be a good idea to drive over and introduce myself, and explain what I was doing. This was part of a dairy where the cows were milked. But it had a gorgeous interior and she was thinking of turning it into some kind of boutique.

Like so many places this was located on a vacant lot between two homes. Possibly a country store or a man cave.

The Concord Primitive Baptist Church, circa 1810. From the deed of December 14, 1808:
“This Indenture made between James Ambrose and Andrew Oliver, Commissioners, appointed by the Baptist Society to carry on the business of Building of a Meeting House in the up River Neighborhood so called; and their Successors of the one part, and Jacob Hassell of Washington County of the other part, Witnesseth: That in order to promote piety, Morality, and vital Religion in said Neighborhood the said Jacob Hassell hath given granted and conveyed until the Commissioners above mentioned and their successors, for the purpose of placing a meeting House thereon…”

What a great collection of little farm related buildings, especially when contrasted with the clouds.

That “Ansel Adams” moment. I saw this country church with it’s steeple and bell, and fell in love.