Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Willis Alston, Jr Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Willis Alston, Jr

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    9 months ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 1
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Thelonious Monk - The marker in Thelonious Monk Plaza.

    Thelonious Monk

    3.0(1 review)
    34.5 mi

    So I know I can't be the first person to want to hit the Thelonious Monk Trail in Rocky Mount. But…read moreit looks like I'll be the first to write about it. I was visiting Raleigh, and I wanted to do the pilgrimage so bad that I hit the road early one bright Sunday morn headed east. Here's what I saw: 1) Thelonious Monk Plaza - I came into town this way, just a slight bit north of the main downtown strip. This plaza is one in the old-school sense - you won't find a minimall with Bath & Body Works around here, rather it's the old train station. This is where the historical marker is planted that identifies one of the true American greats. It makes sense to have jazz markers by the old train stations - it brings back the America of old, and also reminds you that the musicians generally built their careers by moving out. 2) Thelonious Monk Mural - I walked about half a mile from the Plaza to see this (incidentally, on a bright Sunday morn I was the only sign of life in downtown Rocky Mount). If you didn't know it was a tribute to Monk, you would just think it's a slightly unusual mural - a triangle of houses with a trompe l'oeil river stream/piano keyboard that literally flows out onto the pavement (entitled "Monk's Corner"). This was apparently one wall an arts center that no longer exists, sadly - it's near the Harambee Street Apartments. I walked back to my car via Main Street, which allowed me to look at the attractive old historic buildings in downtown, none of whom were doing any business on Sunday. 3) Thelonious Monk Park - Now this was a slight hunt, considering not even Old Man Google registers this park as a place. Further, there's a street address given near Washington/Dunn, but the sign that names the park is over on Wye which spurs off of Washington. That confused me a bit - you can basically identify the park, but I felt like I was slightly trespassing when I wandered along the residential neighborhood to get there. This is a "park" in the sense that you can have a picnic under the gazebo or push your kids on some swings - otherwise it's just a small green space. Monk's childhood home no longer exists but would have been somewhere on the grounds. 4) Monk Rd - This road, just a block south of Monk Park, was obviously named after the man, but there's about as much significance to the name here as there is to the man they named Washington Street after (whoever that was) - its just the name. Nice that it runs parallel to the train tracks, at least. And that's pretty much it at this point. There's been talk about erecting a statue for Monk here, which would be a great idea - the great John Coltrane statue in High Point would be the model to follow, down to the sound samples and all. Here's hoping that happens. Until then, though, you've got this at least. And if you check it out, put on "Pannonica" for the soundtrack - that's what I was listening to, and it seemed to capture the feel perfectly.

    Photos
    Thelonious Monk - Monk St, at the crossing. And that's the Thelonious Monk Trail, straight no chaser.

    Monk St, at the crossing. And that's the Thelonious Monk Trail, straight no chaser.

    Thelonious Monk - The mural, "Monk's Corner."

    The mural, "Monk's Corner."

    Thelonious Monk - The park, with the train rolling on in the background.

    See all

    The park, with the train rolling on in the background.

    Brady C Jefcoat Museum

    Brady C Jefcoat Museum

    4.3(3 reviews)
    45.0 mi

    The Brady C Jefcoat Museum is located in Murfreesboro, NC. There is parking for the museum on the…read morestreet. The museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is currently $10. The museum is located in the old Murfreesboro High School and all three floors are used for the museum. Stairs are the only way to get to the other levels. The elevator appeared out of order. The building is showing its age and needs some maintenance and upkeep. The restroom sink did not have water and did not appear very clean. Some of the rooms had mold or mildew on the walls. Brady Jefcoat was a collector and collected everything you can think of from phonographs to tools to taxidermy to washing machines to toasters to butter churns to telephones to records to bedpans to toilets to toasters. The museum holds all 17,000 items he collected. Every inch of space in the building is filled with the collections from the hallways to the stairwells. I enjoyed aspects of the museum as there were some unique items and the overabundance of some items made the museum unique. Some of the items were labeled so that was helpful. I liked the first room the best with the sofa from Gone With the Wind and the harp. Some of the rooms are so filled with items that it is overwhelming. But there is something special with the everyday items in the collection as the variety of items shows how everyday people lived and how much has changed with technology and innovation. I think a visit to the museum will have something for everyone to enjoy.

    This is an amazing museum. It's not like your typical one, very unusual. It's Mr. Brady Jefcoats…read morepersonal collection. He collected anything that tickled his fancy, and then he collect all types of that item. I was told it takes 3 hours to go through, at first, we were like "yea, right, 15 minutes and I'm outa here". Well, we were wrong. He has the largest collection of phonographs/victrolas around, music boxes, toasters, pipes/cigar making items, bedpans, toilets, bathtubs, tape meastures, office suppies, guns, washing machines/boards. Have to see to believe. I've been in a lot of museums, and this one is one of my tops. It is guided $8/person; and you can't wonder freely due to many items could be stolen. So plan accordingly to the hours open, and give yourself at least 3 hours to go through. Talk about a trip down memory lane!

    Photos
    Brady C Jefcoat Museum
    Brady C Jefcoat Museum
    Brady C Jefcoat Museum

    See all

    Willis Alston, Jr - landmarks - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...