From Mending Soles to Mending Souls
Historic Main Street, Tazewell — Imagine a time before the rumble of engines defined our mornings. Picture Main Street in Tazewell not as a thoroughfare for sedans and trucks, but as a lively artery of pedestrians, horses, and the electric hum of the streetcar. In this world, your boots weren’t just an accessory; they were your primary vehicle. They were the tires on your chassis, the only thing separating you from the dust and mud of a developing mountain town.
At 113 Fincastle Turnpike, inside a modest frame building that smelled of leather, wax, and honest labor, a cobbler sat at his bench. He was the mechanic of his day. Just as we might pull into a garage now for a new set of Michelins to keep our cars safe on the road, the people of turn-of-the-century Tazewell stepped into this shop to keep themselves moving.
This building has always been about movement. It has always been about keeping the community on its feet. But as the decades rolled on and the world sped up, the needs of our town shifted. Today, 113 Fincastle has undergone a profound metamorphosis. It has evolved from a hub for the sole to a sanctuary for the soul.
The Original Service Station
In the early 1900s, “disposable” was a foreign concept. You didn’t throw things away when they broke; you fixed them. This was an era of deep respect for materials and craftsmanship. If your heel wore down from walking the hills of Southwest Virginia, you didn’t buy a cheap replacement shipped from overseas. You went to the local cobbler.
The shoe repair shop at 113 Fincastle was essential infrastructure. It was a place of maintenance and care. In a very literal sense, the cobbler kept the town running. The rhythmic tapping of his hammer was the heartbeat of a community that valued longevity over convenience.
This mindset stands in stark contrast to the modern era of fast fashion, where goods are designed to be discarded after a season. We have gained convenience, certainly, but we have lost the connection to the hands that make and mend our world. We have swapped durability for speed.
When Main Street Sparked to Life
Change has always been the only constant on Historic Main Street. The most significant shift wasn’t just in fashion, but in energy. When Tazewell was electrified and the streetcars began to glide through town, the pace of life quickened. The world became smaller. Suddenly, you could travel further, faster.
The arrival of the automobile eventually transformed the landscape entirely. The shoe shop, once as vital as a gas station is today, became less critical as we spent more time behind wheels than on our feet. The “Western Auto” culture took over, and the focus shifted from maintaining our bodies to maintaining our machines.
But buildings like 113 Fincastle are patient. They withstand the changing tides of technology and commerce. They wait for the cycle to turn again.
A New Kind of Repair
We live in a time of unprecedented comfort, yet many of us feel a different kind of wear and tear. We don’t walk through mud to get to work, but we wade through noise, digital distraction, and isolation. Our boots are fine, but our spirits are often frayed.
The community no longer needs a place to get new leather soles. We have plenty of shoes. What we need now is a place to repair our sense of wonder. We need a space to patch up our connections to one another.
This is where the Haus of Taylor steps in.
By reimagining this historic space, we haven’t just renovated a building; we have repurposed its soul. The restoration of 113 Fincastle is a rejection of the “disposable” culture that permeates modern life. We refused to tear down this relic. Instead, we polished it, honored its scars, and gave it a new mission.
Today, 113 Fincastle is a lifestyle beacon. It is a place where art, history, and hospitality converge to offer a different kind of service.
- The Haus of Taylor Fine Art Gallery invites you to pause and look—really look—at the world through someone else’s eyes. It challenges the mind and feeds the imagination.
- The Farmhouse Suite offers rest and respite, a place to slow down in a world that demands we speed up.
Adapting to the Rhythm of Now
Being a lifestyle brand in Southwest Virginia isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about listening to the heartbeat of the mountains and the people who call them home. It’s about understanding that while our tools change, our fundamental needs do not. We still need to gather. We still need to feel supported. We still need beauty.
We live in a time of unprecedented comfort, yet many of us feel a different kind of wear and tear.
The transition of 113 Fincastle proves that we can honor our heritage without being trapped by it. We can take the industrious spirit of the cobbler—the dedication to craft, the commitment to service—and apply it to the modern need for connection.
We are still in the business of keeping you moving, but now we want to move you emotionally. We want to transport you not across the street, but to a place of inspiration.
Come Connect with History
The next time you walk down Fincastle Turnpike, pause in front of number 113. Close your eyes and listen. You might not hear the tap of the cobbler’s hammer anymore, but if you listen closely, you’ll hear the hum of conversation, the quiet gasp of someone seeing a beautiful painting for the first time, and the laughter of guests making new memories and telling their stories.
From the day the streetlights first flickered on to today, this spot has been a witness to our evolution. It reminds us that while fashions fade and technologies shift, the things that truly matter—community, creativity, and the resilience of the human spirit—never go out of style.
We invite you to step inside. Come see how we’ve traded leather for canvas, and utility for inspiration. Come soothe your soul in the very place where Tazewell once soothed its soles.
Ready to experience the evolution? Visit the Haus of Taylor gallery or book a stay at the Farmhouse Suite to immerse yourself in our living history and see why Tazewell County, Virginia, is worth the stay!
