Old Sellers House and Approaching Storm

In eastern North Carolina, many of the old homes along the highway have seen better days. As I passed this house near Maxton on Highway 74, a farmer and his wagon pulled into a dirt driveway about the same time that the sun broke through the clouds, just before setting. For a moment, there was a picture out of the past, even for 1959. Photographing from the highway with a short telephoto lens, the farmer never knew his picture had been taken for posterity. I couldn’t help but wonder about these familiar, old farmhouses. As time and technology sped by, changing lives forever, this old house stood in tribute to the babies birthed at home by a midwife or a visiting doctor and family meals eaten in humble silence in the dining room after saying, “Let us now bow our heads and give thanks to the Lord.” On this land on hot summer days, endless games of checkers were played on the front porch, or a rocking chair offered the only cooling breeze around.

There was an eerie light all around with a cloud of light fog hanging in the air. The old gentleman watched the sky and likely was sizing up the approaching storm and thinking of any preparations he needed to make. His mule stood quietly awaiting his next command. I felt as if time had frozen and I had to shake myself to come out of my trance and take the picture.

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