I got this photo while pinned down under the downpour on Friday night. I was stuck under an awning waiting for the heavy rain to subside, and decided to get a photo of the Capitol building. I had thought the Vance Monument was the only human-like object in the photo, but if you look closely at the far left bottom window there is a shadowy figure in the rain. This was a longer exposure (1.5 seconds) so any person captured by the camera should be invisible. Additionally, people are never a solid dark color, especially with so many bright fluorescent lights around. If it was a person standing still, there would at least a few colors. I stood staring at the Capitol building for a long time, and there weren’t any people standing around it or walking by it. I’m certainly not a believer in the paranormal and not saying this is a ghost – but it is something strange.

This is the familiar building on Hargett Street, mentioned in my last post and across the street from Two T’s Rack and Tavern. The Empire web site says that

Constructed in 1914, this building was originally home to the Raleigh Furniture Store and later to Kimbrell’s Furniture. This stand-alone structure retains its original brick façade, featuring an original, painted advertisement on the external west-facing three-story wall. Exposed beams on the third floor, tin ceiling tiles on the second floor and hardwood floors throughout will be retained during the renovation, which will include additional windows for more natural light on the west side of the building. Renovations to this property will retain and revitalize its historic qualities, while adapting it for reuse by new, enterprising businesses that desire to operate in the heart of the city.

A news article on the Empire Web site says that

Instead of buying a building and focusing purely on financial return, he’s willing to take the time to renovate the building to its historical glory, and then wait as long as it takes — despite the cost — until the right tenant comes along.

I’ve gushed about Empire Properties before, when talking about the Odd Fellows Building. Any real estate company that puts historical precedence above a quick profit earns a lot of respect from me. Does anyone have information on the past and/or future of this building?

I got the idea to photograph the Murphey School Auditorium based on a tip (thanks Craig!) from someone at the N&O. About 6 weeks ago I drove by this place because they had spotlights shining at the sky. Me, being the moth that I am, followed the lights to this place. Unfortunately I rolled up at a time when no one was outside. It was a brisk night so I decided not to wait around and find out. Once I learned the history, I really regretted not getting pictures. It is a new home for the Burning Coal Theatre Company, and I believe I had been by their grand opening, but came at a bad time.
The Historic Oakwood web site says that

The historic Murphey School Auditorium is at the corner of Person and Polk Streets. The Murphey School, one of the oldest schools still in existence in Raleigh, was the first integrated school in our state’s capital.

The N&O says that

Compared to the Progress Energy Center’s Kennedy Theatre, where Burning Coal performed most frequently, the renovated school auditorium is much more intimate, even though it can seat almost twice as many (up to 175). Seated on three sides of the rectangular playing space (an in-the-round arrangement is also possible), with only three to four rows of seats in each section, audiences are never far from the action.

From what I understand the remaining part of the school has been converted to housing for seniors. For more information on the history of the building and a detailed timedline of the renovation, please visit the official web site.