I have a confession to make before I went to Roanoke, I had never heard of Black Dog Salvage. Now I feel pretty silly because, in all honesty, this is one of the most amazing stores I have ever been to. We were headed to Cups Coffee and Tea on Grandin Road to get some breakfast and stopped there on the way.
As I said, I had never watched the DIY Network show so I didn’t know about the real black dog. Sally greeted us as soon as we pulled into the parking lot. She looked us over, decided we were okay and went on her way. Once we went inside we met the new baby black dog and oh my goodness, that is one cute puppy.
The staff at Black Dog Salvage was amazing and very happy to point out things that we might want to look at. I did meet one of the owners, can you believe I didn’t take his picture and he was happy to chat for a few minutes even though this was a filming day.
My husband and I strolled around the salvage part and I wished that we had come with a truck. I could see lots of great salvage that I wanted to take home with me. I fell in love with the most beautiful mantles, they made mine seem so pedestrian. It is so cool, I can’t stress that enough, loads of doors, shutters, sinks, and knobs, I loved the knobs and pulls.
When we had finished looking around, I stopped back at the counter and the staff told me I had just barely scratched the surface. Another part of the building is filled with vendors who sell equally unique items made from salvaged material.
If you are looking for an unusual, one of a kind gifts or decorating items for your home, this is the place to come.
Fabulous is the word that comes to mind. I was blown away by what we saw and I highly recommend if you are going to be anywhere in the area that you stop by and give them a look.
The owners Mike Whiteside and Robert Kulp have been in business since 1999. When you see the things that they have saved you really appreciate what a passion they both bring to Black Dog Salvage.
I think it is great that they have a popular show but what they have here can certainly stand on its own even if like me you have no idea that they are all semi-famous. But, if you can’t get to Black Dog Salvage, you can buy their amazing architectural treasures on the Internet on their website.
The history of Phoenix began hundreds of years before eastern cities in the United States had any population other than Native Americans. The ruins of Pueblo Grande stand as a silent testimony to the fact that this area was occupied between 700-1400 A.D.
With no supply of water except the Salt River to give life to what we now call the Valley of the Sun, the Hohokams farmed the land as early as 300 B.C. They developed an irrigation system with 135 miles of canals. Their efforts brought fertility to the valley as they grew corn, beans and squash. They had a sophisticated style of art and have left us some fascinating glimpse of what their lives were like.
Sometime between their heyday and 1400 A.D., the Hohokams disappeared and we have only speculations as to their ultimate fate. The name Hohokam "The people who have gone" and it is the name they were given by the natives who discovered their abandoned civilization.
Jack Swilling was the most influential man in the founding of Phoenix. He saw the farming potential in the area. This former Confederate soldier founded the Swilling Irrigation Canal Company to bring to the rich soil the element it was missing to become a breadbasket, water.
When it came time to the name of the new city, the choice of Phoenix is credited to Darrell Duppa who pointed out that it was being built on the ashes of a former culture. This was 1868 and on June 15 the first Post Office opened with Jack Swilling as the postmaster.
In 1870, the site for the town of Phoenix was determined and it is what would now be called the downtown business district. On December 23 and 24, 1870, a great sale of lots was held to help build the downtown area. This great sale resulted in 61 lots being sold at an average of $48 per lot. 1871 saw the building of the first general store and the first church. This was Hancock's Store and the Central Methodist Church. The first Catholic Church, Sacred Heart of St Louis wasn't built until 1881.
In 1881 the city was incorporated and elections for the first mayor were held in May of that year. What was the population of Phoenix in 1881? It was 2500. As the city developed it began to attract business and one of the first major ones was the Holsum Bakery. In 1886 one of the first electric plants in the west was established in Phoenix and that same year, the Phoenix Fire Engine Company Number 1 came into existence, it was a volunteer fire department that served the city for many years.
On July 4, 1886, the Southern Pacific Railroad arrived in Phoenix and this would give the whole area a real boost. On February 14, 1912, Phoenix became the capital of the United States newest state.
In more recent times, Phoenix was visited by some strange and unusual lights. On March 13, 1997, thousands of people swear that Phoenix was visited by ufos. Who knows, maybe there is more to the Superstition Mountains than superstitions.
Did you know that if Jack Swilling had his way we would be writing interesting historical facts about "Stonewall" Arizona? How about the fact that in 1874 there were more saloons and dance halls in Phoenix than there were churches? Not so much of a surprise for a wild western town.
Phoenix is a very interesting and historic city, the facts bear that out. It is still as attractive to potential residents as it has been throughout most of its history.
