The unincorporated village of Moncure has about 300 residents, depending on where you draw the lines. It is a tiny southern setting, with three churches, a gas station and butcher shop, a post office, a bank, and The Moncure Chessworks.

We are a bright white building in the middle of town, which was once a gas station, then a juke joint, and now an artist's studio.

The colorful mural on the side of the building greets most visitors who enter the village. It was done by California muralist Elsie Kagan, with help from local school children. The image is that of a chess board which is coming unraveled, and is populated by some of Estill"s sculptural creations.

In the front parking lot we have created the pawn garden, which includes a two thousand pound pawn holding a stainless steel flag. It is surrounded by manganese planters, and is filled with beautiful plantings by Jim Massey at the Holly Hill Daylily Farm.

In the side yard of Chessworks sits a twenty four square foot solid cement chess board. It was created as a class project by the masonry students at Northwood High School. The board is used for individual piece design, and for big board play at Chessworks openings.

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