In fact, we've been told that the miners had to enter the building by the side doors, and not the front entrance. |
The bathtubs and the fireplace were the only things left in the building and, at first, only the fireplace worked. Even the doors and light fixtures were missing. |
The whole building shook when the coal trains came by. We clutched each other and said, 'We've got to find people who love trains.' And we did. |
We met in New York in 2001, where we were working on recovery from the 9/11 attack. We came down here in 2002, after the floods. Dan was working in logistics for FEMA, and drove by this building practically every day. |
With its balconies, patio and archway, I saw an Italian palace. And since it was the last historic building in the area still standing after the floods, I saw a place that needed to live again. |