Chowan Discovery Group

Ahoskie Main Street Public Art Project

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WhitesMurual_001Mural: Whites Department Store (2014) – 5.5 ft x 22 ft

Artists: Gary Johnson and Marvin Ryan; Art Coordinator: James Messer, all of the Roanoke Chowan Community College

Wall Owner – Jamie Johnson; wall location is on Mitchell Street at Main Street, Ahoskie, NC.

Funders: Ace Hardware Ahoskie & Murfreesboro, Evans Johnson, and the Chowan Discovery Group

The mural wall is the 3-story former Garrett Building which was a hotel and a furniture store dating back to the 1920’s. The Whites Department Store mural is taken from a 1960’s photograph that currently resides at the Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce.

The Whites Department Store was constructed in 1956 for property owner Mary Saluda Hall and is still in use by another tenant.  The contractor was Thomas Newsome of Ahoskie, who also constructed the New Ahoskie Baptist Church.  White’s is long remembered for its hot dog counter.