The Bill Hughes Gazette
15/100 Strangers - James
Most people go to Music On Main on Thursday evenings to listen to live music, see the car show once a month and maybe have some ice cream from
Squire's Dairy Delight's ice cream wagon.
Walking up the steps onto Main Street, I met a man with a firm handshake and a pleasant smile.
Meet James Walker of Elkton. James was relaxing on a park bench while the music of the Pure Pleasure Band played in front of town hall and North and Main Streets were lined with classic cars and hot rods.
James seemed like a guy out for the evening before heading home to get a good nights sleep for tomorrow. The problems are that James is always around 24/7 because he has no home to go to and no job for some time.
"I'm homeless and I'm bored. I don't have any place to go, I'm not employed and I wouldn't mind getting a part time job like Walmart's, twenty hours a week. I don't mind working. I've worked at DuPont and Chrysler" he said.
James is tired of just hanging out and sleeping outside.
"This poor old black man needs a warm place to stay instead of sleeping under that bridge. I was there all last winter. I'm 62 and I'm not used to that kind of winter. I had an alcohol problem, but I'm out of rehab. A one bedroom apartment, that's all I need. I'm trying to get off these streets, he added.
That was James story, the first time I met him on August 20th, but I wasn't happy with the photo of him to post here. I caught up with him tonight at Music On Main during a concert by local bluegrass band Chain Reaction when I took this portrait of him.
"It's getting ready to get colder and I have to fight the elements," he said while standing at the corner of Main and North Streets.
James is still trying to find an apartment and is taking the steps to get one.
"I went over to Fox Ridge Apartments and I'm 12th on the list to get one. Affortable Housing is what it's called. I get fixed income now," he added.
James wears a Nascar hat so obviously I thought he was a fan.
"It says Ford, but I'm a Jeff Gordon fan since I used to work for DuPont at the Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware on route 41. I was a chemical operator for three years and a lab technician for four years. I had seven years employment there in 1976, then I went to Chrysler."
He was once married and has a daughter Beverly and son Jim Jr who he still sees.
"Their older now. They love me to death."
As the fall season approaches, I'll try to keep updates on James Walker and his countdown to a new home.
In case your wondering, the Voldemort t-shirt James is wearing is a character in the Harry Potter movies. Lord Voldemort (the "t" is silent) plays a villian and is an archenemy to Harry Potter according to Wikipedia. I didn't ask him about it, but should have.
To check out other photogs on this same assignment, go to www.100strangers.com.
15/100 Strangers - James
Most people go to Music On Main on Thursday evenings to listen to live music, see the car show once a month and maybe have some ice cream from
Squire's Dairy Delight's ice cream wagon.
Walking up the steps onto Main Street, I met a man with a firm handshake and a pleasant smile.
Meet James Walker of Elkton. James was relaxing on a park bench while the music of the Pure Pleasure Band played in front of town hall and North and Main Streets were lined with classic cars and hot rods.
James seemed like a guy out for the evening before heading home to get a good nights sleep for tomorrow. The problems are that James is always around 24/7 because he has no home to go to and no job for some time.
"I'm homeless and I'm bored. I don't have any place to go, I'm not employed and I wouldn't mind getting a part time job like Walmart's, twenty hours a week. I don't mind working. I've worked at DuPont and Chrysler" he said.
James is tired of just hanging out and sleeping outside.
"This poor old black man needs a warm place to stay instead of sleeping under that bridge. I was there all last winter. I'm 62 and I'm not used to that kind of winter. I had an alcohol problem, but I'm out of rehab. A one bedroom apartment, that's all I need. I'm trying to get off these streets, he added.
That was James story, the first time I met him on August 20th, but I wasn't happy with the photo of him to post here. I caught up with him tonight at Music On Main during a concert by local bluegrass band Chain Reaction when I took this portrait of him.
"It's getting ready to get colder and I have to fight the elements," he said while standing at the corner of Main and North Streets.
James is still trying to find an apartment and is taking the steps to get one.
"I went over to Fox Ridge Apartments and I'm 12th on the list to get one. Affortable Housing is what it's called. I get fixed income now," he added.
James wears a Nascar hat so obviously I thought he was a fan.
"It says Ford, but I'm a Jeff Gordon fan since I used to work for DuPont at the Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware on route 41. I was a chemical operator for three years and a lab technician for four years. I had seven years employment there in 1976, then I went to Chrysler."
He was once married and has a daughter Beverly and son Jim Jr who he still sees.
"Their older now. They love me to death."
As the fall season approaches, I'll try to keep updates on James Walker and his countdown to a new home.
In case your wondering, the Voldemort t-shirt James is wearing is a character in the Harry Potter movies. Lord Voldemort (the "t" is silent) plays a villian and is an archenemy to Harry Potter according to Wikipedia. I didn't ask him about it, but should have.
To check out other photogs on this same assignment, go to www.100strangers.com.