Downtown – Hillsville, Virginia
Hillsville is home of the handsome Carroll County Court House with an octagonal cupola and pedimented front. Set on a hill it further stands out from its surrounds.
These two and three story buildings create a nice sense of enclosure and a building wall.
Hillsville is a Preserve America community. The sign is on the front of a ramped walkway between some historic buildings. Holiday decorations for Halloween with ghosts, pumpkins, cornstalks, and gourds are well executed.
The decorations continue here with planters and mums to either side of the door, and haybales. A clever touch is the layer and continue the display on the inside of the building using similar materials to those outside of the building.
Here brick is used as an accent rather than as the primary paving material. This creates an interesting effect that draws the eye and the pedestrian along, similar to the Freedom Trail in Boston.
FUMC “Out of the Box” likely is a store for lightly used items from the First United Methodist Church. This presence of faith based organizations in the downtown provides an interesting way to serve residents and visitors outside of the formal church walls.
Banners for Historic Hillsville are on lightpoles. A wayfinding sign points to Beaver Dam Trail.
The limited use of brick for accent only and not as a primary paving material is on display here with this simple brick diamond shape. This is economical as it is resourceful, subtly indicating the end or alternatively the beginning of this paved walk.