I was in Rockingham this past weekend (073011-073111) and we rode up to Hoffman and did a little sightseeing. Checked out the old Indian Lake I used to swim in as a kid and photos are on this website and posted earlier in this section.

We also rode on out James G Watson road to the old Watson Homeplace - which, by the way, is where my wife's father John Watson grew up. I couldn't pass up taking a few photos of history while there. There are quite a few buildings there in addition to the house, which is featured in The Architectural History of Richmond County, North Carolina, A Project of The Richmond County Historical Society. The Watson Farm ranks as one of the county's most significant historic farmsteads for the high degree of preservation of its farmhouse and other buildings. This house and buildings were built before the Civil War. So, this house or part of it and the buildings are probably around 150 years old. They have stood the passage of time fairly well, as you can see in the photos below.

If you read the book referenced above, you can find more information on  the Watson farm. The tenants house is particularly interesting as Mr Watson says he remembers when a black lady lived there with her son and her name was "Aunt Tishie" Green, as noted in the book. Over the years as he was growing up there they grew corn, cotton, peanuts, sweet potatoes and tobacco. James K Watson , son of James G Watson, at one time operated a sawmill on the farm.

                           (click on a photo for a larger view)