Page 65 - NyghtVision Magazine Volume 4 #2

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west of Williamston. The 2012 population was to drive to larger cities nearby to find larger se-
161, down 10 percent from 2000. The town is lections at better prices. (2-3) A fading billboard
66 feet above sea level. In classic southern style, painted on the brick wall of the J. T. Barnhill
Main and Broad Streets cross to form the main Supply Store, which still operates on the main in-
intersection. One block north, the railroad cuts tersection, encourages farmers to sell their tobac-
through town, with the downtown area and bet- co in Williamston, “A Good Market in a Friendly
ter homes south of the tracks and the “other side” Town.” (4) Nearby, the Everett Lumber Mill is
of the tracks to the north. The town dates from rusting and falling in on itself, having closed in
1891 and is named for Simon Peter Everett, who 1909 when the local lumber supply ran out. (5)
deeded the land the Tarboro-Williamston Rail- Just down Broad Street, a nice home stands emp-
road Company used to construct a railroad line. ty, an echo of the stump of a once-grand tree now
How about that for a good biblical name! decaying in the front yard. (Note the chimney
Everetts is a microcosm of a rural southern that does not go through the roof.) (6) The Good
town. The town’s retail area is dying if not dead, News Church has moved into one downtown
with stores boarded up and standing empty, re- building, begging the question of what the good
minding us of the time before residents were able news might be. (7)
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