Two Prominent Buildings

I took the time to wander down the main street of our small town, it was quiet being Easter Sunday giving me the chance for some photography. It was warm with blue sky above and the trees are looking spectacular with their autumn shades.

Unfortunately thats where the beauty ends, shipping containers are stacked 3 high for the 'just in case' event of another earthquake, fences are up and its a matter of following the arrows if your a pedestrian, the road is open but only for one way traffic and many businesses are closed, some have relocated.

The nearest building is the brick Pulley's Building, built in 1923 and was one of the last of its era to be built in this street. Belonging to Victor Pulley, a tobacconist and hairdresser he operated his hairdressing salon on the ground with a billard room behind. The footpath outside Pulley's shop became a favourite gathering place for the men of the town on Saturday nights, late-night shopping night until the early nineteen-twenties. The sports papers were delivered to this point and farm workers coming into town for a hair-cut, shave and general spruce up crowded into Pulley's billiard saloon to play billiards and snooker.

The grand building beside it is the Junction Hotel, built in 1880 replacing a wooden structure. The two storied brick building is finished in Oamaru stone with heavy gables and a balcony overhanging the footpath. The heavy stone facade was brought down to the street by the Christmas Day 1922 earthquake! It was never replaced.

In the days of dirt roads and horse and carts a water trough and hitching rails were sited in front. Behind the building were livery stables and an old corrugated iron shed which served as the town morgue. If any important person should visit the town, they would speak from the balcony while people gathered to listen below.

The Pulley's building is closed and possibly to be strenghened while the fate of the Junction Hotel, now operating as a family restaurant is closed and  unknown.

A little bit of history and record making for my journal, there will be more to come but the pace is quite slow as I'm trying to dig up the history - not always an easy task.

Many thanks to all who have stopped by leaving some lovely comments, I will be back ever so soon but struggling a little with the time thing.

Hope your all enjoying a fine Easter - its the best Easter here yet weatherwise :))