In this day of mobile homes, townhouses and pre-fab dwelling units, the art of architecture has been lost for the sake of convenience. A short stroll on Beverley Street in Staunton takes you back to an era of familial and town pride in building solidity and design.

At the corner of Market and E. Beverley Streets is the Dixie Theater constructed in 1912. Stop and look up. In the center of the second floor are three arches inlaid with terra cotta mosaic tiles. Above the arches are four theatrical laughing faces. On both sides of the arches are two false windows intricately designed with terra cotta tiles. This architectural style is called Italian Renaissance Revival and was created by T. J. Collins and Sons. Collins was a famous architect who came to Staunton in 1891 and in a mere twenty years, designed or remodeled over two hundred buildings in the area.

Adjoining the Dixie Theater is 121 Beverley, originally the International Order of the Odd Fellow's building. Erected from 1894-99 and designed by Collins, the original style is Chateauesque; however, the facade was redone in 1930 in Tudor Revival. The building has a majestic wooden tower, slate roof, stucco and timber framing, and Victorian stained glass.

Just a few steps down on the same side of the street is 21 E. Beverley . Collins remodeled it in 1911 for Switzer Jewelry. In true Venetian Romanesque Revival style, Collins imported, from New York, the elaborate terra cotta facade that looks like white marble and lace. Three Victorian arched stained glass windows preside over an intricate false balcony. The building is quite eye catching, like the ghost of a beautiful lady from a forgotten time.

Across the street, 14-18 Beverley, are Holt's Card and Gift and Hallmark Card Shop. Both are "Eastlake Design" which features ornate metal cornices, hand-carved tulip and other floral patterns edge the roof, and the windows are trimmed in stained glass. The architect of the building is unknown.

At the end of the block--yes, all this and more in one block--is the exquisite Marquis building, boasting balconies and an impressive turret. One large arched opening proudly announces the building's 1899 construction. T. J. Collins again displays his genius in this Romanesque Revival with Richardsonian influence. The first level of the building is stone with a unique corner entrance that is supported by heavy Roman columns. As befitting such a masterpiece, the master architect had his offices on the top floors.

Skip across Augusta Street and the National Valley Bank looms up beside you. Another Collin's masterpiece, the building is based on the Roman Arch of Titus. The architectural style is actually Beaux Arts, which means a beautiful combination of all different styles. Corinthian columns grace the sides of the arch while ancanthus leaf brackets dance along the roof's edge. "Cartouche" reign over the windows, pedestals are granite, ledges, columns, and trim are terra cotta, and the spaces in between are brick. The real treasure of the building is inside. Visitors are welcome inside and I shall not spoil the adventure by telling what awaits.

Across the street, 7-13 W. Beverley, is the towering Masonic Building whose cornerstone boasts an 1895 construction. This five and a half storied structure is a real neck strainer. The top left corner is a wooden bell tower; in the center is a large gable with the Masonic emblem in terra cotta above a Palladian window; the right , smaller gable hosts a fierce, roaring lion's head. The Historic Staunton Foundation lists the building as "Chateauesque, Beaux Arts and Neo-Classical." I. E. A. Rose was the supervising architect of this brick, stone, wooden, and terra cotta collage of art. The intricate ornamentation is well worth the "crook in the neck."

Bouncing down to the end of the block, on the corner of Beverley and Central, is the Queen Anne Clock Tower. The clock has been silently keeping the minutes for the town since 1890. The brick building is as both as modest and entrancing as her namesake. Historically, the building is famous because it hosted the second YMCA in Virginia--complete with an indoor bowling alley, track, auditorium, and the town's first public library. But there's something so British about her outside that captures the eye and leaves the mind spellbound and expectant of hearing the clatter of carriages coming down the street....

Across Central, at 103 W. Beverley, is the 1894 chipped stone old Putnam Organ Showroom. The center gabled roof with a circular window above arched stained glass windows gives a reverential aura to the building. I had thoughts of King Arthur and forgotten churches.

In a mere three and a quarter blocks, I time traveled eras. These prestigious buildings are but a few of Staunton's treasures. Time periods represented by buildings range from the 1700's to the 20th Century. The Historic Staunton Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization of Staunton's valuable architectural heritage, has developed a brochure called "Walking Tours of Historic Staunton, Va." Which provides pictures, descriptions, and maps for 59 structures of interest. The brochure is available at the Tourist Information Center located on Rt. 250 off the I-81 and I-64 exchange.

On my way out of town, I jumped out at the light at the corner of S. Augusta and E. Johnson Street. "Our Lady of Justice" beckoned from the dome of the 1901 Neo-Classical designed Court House to take her photograph. How could I refuse? I must go back to see the owl with the fire eyes atop the cupola at Oakdene....