Another historical landmark will be swept into the dustbin of history when Gray's General Store - the oldest continuously operated general store in the US - closes its doors tomorrow afternoon. This throwback to a simpler time first opened in 1788, a year after the Constitutional Convention formed the US Constitution and four years before Rhode Island was even a state. Today, the store featured an old fashioned marble soda fountain and still sold traditional Rhode Island johnnycakes. A quick look at the exterior, however, tells you that the property has not withstood the ravages of time. The condition of the steps in front of the store offer a hint of the financial difficulties facing those who operate these endangered businesses that once serviced remote communities when transportation was costly and challenging. Gray's will be missed. It has been a landmark in the tiny Little Compton village of Adamsville for several centuries. This type of living history is irreplaceable.
Post processing started in Topaz Adjust. I applied a contrast pop filter, and also adjusted the lighting and contrast before returning to PSE. The black and white conversion used a gradient map in color blend mode. I adjusted levels followed by brightness and contrast. The upper layer was a sepia photo filter.
