Sharon Spell

Preserving the Details: The Architectural Character of the Caire Stores Historic buildings tell their stories in more ways than words. Long before a visitor reads a museum exhibit or sees an old photograph, the architecture itself begins speaking. Every worn doorknob, handcrafted window, and decorative iron fitting reflects the craftsmanship, priorities, and pride of those who built the Caire Stores more than a century ago. As restoration continues, we've uncovered and preserved many of these...

Everyday objects offer a glimpse into the lives of those who came before us It is common in this Caire home to open an unassuming box, or pick up what looks to be a stack of old mail, and find treasures from the past. An assortment of paper items is nonchalantly laying in a pile on the coffee table - a few items of interest I’ve set there as I’ve perused various boxes and piles of items in the house. As I enjoy my Saturday morning coffee in the den, I look back through them. A couple of...

Hurricane Ida's damage revisited Five years ago, Hurricane Ida brought devastation to the Caire Stores and to the community of Edgard. While there was no officially confirmed tornado, powerful winds associated with the storm caused the 170+ year-old roof of the brick store to be ripped completely away — sending it cartwheeling across the adjacent property. The damage was significant, including to the Sidney and Annette Caire home next door, where Caire descendant Joanny Benoit and her...