Stop and Look
Colors and shapes: The combination of the red stop sign with a dusting of snow on it, the blue sky and the green lamppost in the distance compelled me to photograph this scene at Shallowford Square.
Unexpected Art
Continuing with photos from last weekend’s snowstorm, today’s photos confirm my belief that art is everywhere, if we’ll only stop and look for it.
Very often it’s the everyday objects and moments that give us the opportunity to capture or create art. Lighting, shapes, colors or textures are often key components of appealing art. Even an ordinary old stop sign can qualify as art! CLICK for more UNEXPECTED ART
Serenity at the Square
An early morning view of the beautiful snow at Shallowford Square.
Early Reward
As I approached Shallowford Square early on the morning of our recent snowfall, I was surprised to see not a trace of footprints in the beautiful snow around the Square. “Wow,” I thought, “It looks like I’m the first one here.”
Pure, unblemished snow is not only a serene sight, but for me it holds a hint of the sacred. As I made my way around the perimeter of the Square, photographing from various viewpoints, I just couldn’t bring myself to transgress the white beauty. I surely did want to move into the scene and take some close-ups here and there, but I hesitated to mar the perfection before me.
Why not simply enjoy the beauty from afar and allow others to experience the same serene sight? That’s what something deep within urged me to do. So I moved on, leaving the scene as I’d found it — pure and unblemished.
Perhaps on the next snowfall I’ll dare to move in and get the shots I relinquished that morning at the Square. Nevertheless, on that particular day, not violating the serenity at the Square seemed more important than the photos I might have taken.
Photo Gallery
Please visit the Shallowford Square photo gallery to enjoy a few more serene photos of the Square. Any thoughts you’d like to share in the Comment section?
Back to 1859
Members of the West Side Civic Theatre reenact the marriage of Lewisville's founder, Lewis Case Laugenour, to Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Nissen in 1859. The onlooker in the foreground, dressed in period attire, looks as though he, too, could have stepped out of the 1800s.
Lewisville Celebrates 150 Years
On Saturday, October 17, 2009, the Town of Lewisville, North Carolina celebrated its 150th anniversary with the Lewisville Sesquicentennial Celebration at Shallowford Square. Members of the Lewisville Historical Society had worked for more than a year on the celebration plans.
Despite the cloudy, cool weather, the celebration began at 11:00 a.m. with an old-fashioned vehicle parade, followed by a variety of activities, exhibits and tours until the celebration ended at 4:00 p.m. Some of the activities and exhibits included:
- Bluegrass music
- Brass band
- Square dancing
- Storytelling
- Wagon rides
- Post Office memorabilia & the 150th year commemorative stamp
- Genealogy and Lewisville history exhibits
- Poster and essay contest awards presented to local school children
- Nineteenth century craft exhibits
- Flower show
- Historic sidewalk tour
- Old-fashioned children’s games
The Big Wedding
The final and defining event of the day was the reenactment of the 1859 marriage of Lewis Case Laugenour to Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Nissen. The talented members of the West Side Civic Theatre gave a most engaging rendition of the marriage, complete with children and the sounds of brass music by the Brookstown Band. The cake and ice cream reception following the wedding put the finishing touch on the Sesquicentennial Celebration.
For more on Lewisville’s Sesquicentennial Celebration — including lots of PHOTOS — please continue to the NEXT SECTION. CLICK for more on Lewisville’s 150th anniversary
Bringing History to Life
Brad Craver, accompanied by his son Andrew, gave a Civil War presentation at an outdoor meeting of the Lewisville Historical Society in Lewisville, North Carolina.
A Civil War Family
In 2002 Brad Craver and his sons, Austin and Andrew, decided to take up a hobby that has kept them close as a family and has brought history to life for them. As amateur Civil War historians, the Cravers spend six or seven weekends each year participating in Civil War reenactments in North Carolina, Virginia and as far north as Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
On the evening of September 14, 2009, Brad and his sons met with members of the Lewisville Historical Society under the oak trees at Shallowford Square. Their Civil War presentation included relics of that era — a sword, a pistol, and a rifle that was loaded and fired by both Austin and Andrew.
Dressed in full Civil War garb, the Cravers also brought with them items that a typical Civil War soldier might have carried in his haversack (backpack): a “housewife” (a sewing kit), military handbook, Christian tract, playing cards, bed cap, eating utensils and a supply of hardtack (hard biscuits).
Whenever the Cravers share with groups of various ages or are involved in Civil War reenactments, they typically represent two particular regiments: the Federal Army’s 83rd Pennsylvania Regiment and the Confederate States Army’s 24th Virginia Regiment. They’re part of the approximately 50,000 Civil War reenactors from nearly every state in the USA, as well as from other countries, including England and Belgium.
To see more PHOTOS and to hear the AUDIO RECORDING of the Cravers’ Civil War presentation, please continue to the NEXT SECTION. CLICK for more on the Civil War
