Look to your left-you’ll spot classic brick and pastel colored historic homes standing proudly along the street, their different shapes and rooftops announcing the entrance to this special district.
Alright, let’s take a step back in time together-imagine it’s the late 1800s, carriages and fancy hats rule the day, and Martinsville’s East Church Street-Starling Avenue is just coming alive! The trees rustle around you, but listen closely-you might hear the faint click of typewriters or the sounds of families coming and going from houses with impressive names like the James Cheshire House or the “Wedding Cake House” (try not to get hungry, it doesn’t serve dessert!). These 117 buildings, each with their own flavor, tell stories from the bustling mid-1880s all the way to the post-war 1950s. There’s a bit of everything here-from the pointed Tudor Revival styles to stately Colonial Revivals, and even a church that’s watched generations grow. Did you know that some old-timers still argue about which window gives the best view of a thunderstorm? The district isn’t just homes, though-the local high school, gymnasium, and iconic neighbors like the John Waddey Carter House, Scuffle Hill, and the Little Post Office bring even more intrigue. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2006, every brick whispers secrets of their former residents. So, take your time-maybe you’ll even feel the echoes of yesterday’s laughter swirling just around the corner!
