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Buildings around High Point are getting a facelift from volunteers and business owners.

Before the fall furniture market, Nancy Rothrock, Pam Stern and volunteers painted the front of 122 N. Main Street and the building beside it.

A downtown group of business owners were looking for a way to make downtown look attractive. Working together, downtown property owners have been able to help each other accomplish that, Stern said.

“We worked night and day to get buildings looking beautiful,” she said. They finished painting two days before market.

Rothrock and Stern also are working on a mural painted on plywood that will be hung on the top of the building. It depicts a balcony with people standing in front of a sliding glass door.

The people will be painted in the likeness of High Point residents, their family members or historic figures from High Point’s past.

Seven people have donated $150 for materials and paint and have selected people for the mural. Seven more people are needed to donate $150 and select a figure for the mural.

On the ground level, Rothrock and Stern are creating freestanding cutouts of people to decorate the front of the building. The cutouts are $250 and also feature real people.

Other people and businesses have donated time, materials or money to help the project along, including Bennett Masonry for scaffolding and United Furniture for funds.

Once the building at 122 N. Main St. is sold, the mural will be moved and the revitalization of another building will start. Stern said there are three other property owners interested in working with the group.

Over on Washington Street, the old Reggie’s Barber Shop, 613 Washington St., is getting a splash of color too.

Darron McInnis of High Point, Justin Wilson of Winston-Salem, Jason Sturdivant of Statesville and Anthony Belton of High Point, artists from Yalik’s Modern Arts, are painting the side the building with scenes depicting High Point’s African American history.

Phyllis Bridges of Yalik’s said many prominent people lived in High Point and many famous people have made their way through High Point, including Langston Hughes and Cab Calloway’s sister Blanche.

“Not many know how rich the African American history is in High Point,” Bridges said.

Patrick Harmon, owner of the building, asked Bridges to find artists to paint the building.

Bridges said the mural may be finished in three more weeks. She said the artists are painting 15 images of people and landmarks, such as William-Penn school and the First Baptist Church, on the building and are including a lot of detail.

Harmon will have an office in the building as will City Project and the High Point Fine Arts Guild, which Bridges also heads up, and a ministry.

To donate materials for the downtown mural project, contact City Project at 883-8547.

Contact E.A. Seagraves at 883-4422, Ext. 241, or elizabeth.seagraves@news-record.com