NO BOX STORES ON MAIN STREET IN SMALL TOWN BROWNSVILLE, OREGON

Then (left side of photo)

and 

Now (right side of photo)

photo credit: City of Brownsville, Oregon

Take a stroll down Brownsville's main street and be introduced to hometown shops. 

A strong sense of community is a hallmark of the town.

Here you will find about 1700 residents located in the southern part of Oregon's Willamette Valley.

Town settled in the 1840's.

Commercial area dates from the 1850's to the 1920's.

And while you are there stop and enjoy a cool one 
at the Brownsville Saloon.

OLD DOOR ARCADE

At one time doors were not standardized like today's modern ones. Does that tell us something? Perhaps. Maybe it tells us that we have lost some of our uniqueness? These old doors belonged to commercial or public places -- some now vacant --  they hang like artistic ornaments. 

Old screen door to college's outdoor theater.

Old door of early church. KY

Unknown commercial use, Maysville, KY

Unknown commercial use, Mt Vernon, KY

Old bank door, unknown use now, Waco, KY

Old train station door, still in use, Maysville, KY

Old door, Grocery Store, Waco, KY

VICTORIAN WINDOWS -- ARCHITECTURAL BEAUTIES

Richmond, Kentucky has one of the better collections of commercial second story windows I've seen in Kentucky towns  -- most located in their old main street section. Now let me qualify that statement -- I have not seen all the towns in Kentucky. I'm sure there are many others with special qualities.

Included here are a couple of photos of the streetscapes displaying the contiguous line up of some of the buildings. I then have taken close-ups so you can view the workmanship of the Victorian windows.

Why the second story windows and not the whole building? Well, I wanted to concentrate on these old ladies as they appeared in the late 1800s when most of them were built. Sometimes the first floor can be rather contemporary in feeling.

This is not all of Richmond's historic commercial buildings. There are more around every corner you turn in the commercial section. This town is also filled with beautiful historic housing of all sizes and types. Richmond's population is presently a little over 33,000. I would call it a medium size town. 

Check out second story exteriors in old towns  -- you might discover some fine workmanship as well as beauty.