I would guess that these buildings were around 50 years old when the picture was made. To judge by the swaybacked bricks, a lot of settling has occurred. This was one of the series of pictures that Walker Evans made of "Negro storefronts," as he called them. There are some more examples here on Shorpy.

Was that Saturday Special, or Saturday Night Special?

I'd love to know more about the history of this building.

Portions of "Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou?" were filmed along the railroad tracks that run through Edwards.

Alcohol, guns, and burial right there is one place.

I want to say what a sorry, sorry looking sight this is, but then I can think of several places in many cities today that don't look much better.

Love the brickwork, by the way.

The lack of graffiti is glaring!

At the People's "Burrial" Association. If Herman's last name is Munster, back out very slowly.

"Do drop in" would have been a nice one for the "Burrial Association" next door, too.

One wonders at the location of all three shops in a row -- restaurant, gunsmith, mortician. Though the restaurant is actually right next door to the mortician. Yum!

It's a terrifically interesting little building. I love the little brick detail along the top with the angled bricks and the little "S" shaped bracket on the left holding the sign and squiggle shaped one on the right over the electricity meter. I am guessing the wall is painted white but in my imagination, painted light green.