Back in February of this year a miracle, of sorts, took place at 15 Tarboro St. in East Raleigh. I am speaking of course, of the official opening of the St. Monica Teen Center. The city-sponsored facility provides a safe haven for neighborhood teenagers for after school activities, recreation and interaction with other teens and adults.

The Center has a computer lab, a homework assistance area, a fitness/dance space and a youth lounge, among other amenities. Under the jurisdiction of the Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department, the center has a full-time director, and is the first such teen-oriented facility funded by the City of Raleigh. In its three short months of operation, the Teen Center is already having a positive effect on the community.

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The Bell Tower and Learning Resources Center with a couple of uprooted trees

Shaw University was one of the places to be hit by the series of storms which rained down tornadoes upon North Carolina. While the devastation is still being assessed across the city and state, Shaw was one of the places in Raleigh hit pretty hard. There are several large and old uprooted trees nears the Bell Tower, sections of the roof of Estey Hall were blown off, and the Student Center sustained a great deal of damage.

Although classes were cancelled for the remainder of the semester, efforts are underway for students across NC college campuses to come together to clean up the damage.

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Capital Coca Cola Bottling Company, 1941. From the Albert Barden Collection, North Carolina State Archives.

Right past the Morgan Street Bridge lies the foundation and structural artifacts of a long gone building. Looking much like the rest of the Warehouse District, the utilitarian building in the photo above was home to the Capital Coca-Cola Bottling Company. The space is now home to Men at Work Care Care Center.

Unfortunately, the only structural remains of this building are the steel support beams in the secret underground lair in the photo above.

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