Main Street in Danbury is undergoing road construction in front of the Stokes County Art Council building and Artist’s Way Bakery Café. The project began October 29 and is expected to be completed within the next couple of weeks.

Town Administrator Byron Ellis said: “It was necessary. The sidewalk was decaying. Pieces of the building were falling apart. It was also not ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) compliant.”

The total cost of the project is estimated at $75,000. Danbury is receiving money from the Powell Fund Bill which is allocated to qualified municipalities in North Carolina. According to the Department of Transportation, the bill is for the “purposes of maintaining, repairing, constructing, reconstructing or widening of local streets.” The NC DOT Enhancement Fund is also contributing $18,000.

Once completed in the weeks to come, the project will still require funding for an additional $15,000 which will include landscaping, sidewalk construction and a retaining wall.

The project was scheduled to be completed before December, but due to rain, construction was put on hold temporarily.

Bonnie Rodell, owner and operator of Artist’s Bakery for the past eight years, is looking forward to using her front door entrance again soon.

“It’s affected our business a little, but not a lot. We’re excited about seeing how it turns out,” she said.

The end result is expected to bring in more people to her bakery as well as the Art Council.

“We’re hoping this will be a boost to area businesses. It will provide a nice outdoor space which will allow for tables and chairs,” Ellis said.

History abounds even when least expected. As the construction crew worked to break up the gravel in front of the Art Council building, they made an interesting discovery. They found a 1930’s Sears Catalog along with a Walnut Cove Theater Vaudeville ticket which had a price tag of 15 cents.

“It was folded but sealed. It was surprisingly in very good shape,” Ellis said.

Danbury, a bustling community which serves as a route for tourists who are visiting Hanging Rock State Park, Dan River, Moratock Park, Cascade Falls, Tories Den or the Sauratown Trail, is expected to greatly benefit from the enhancements made in town. Whether hosting the Stokes Stomp, which brings in over 15,000 people or Christmas in Historic Danbury, Art Auctions or Winter Dessert Theater, Danbury will look a little different in the coming months—a little better.