Village Subway: New fiction book explores lost Raleigh history, urban legends

An abandoned series of underground music clubs where rock n' roll legends once played, sealed away decades ago and hidden beneath a bustling modern shopping center in a major city.

Doesn't that sound like something you'd read about in an adventure novel?

Through his book, Matthew House hopes to allow locals to vicariously explore some of the Triangle area's mysteries in a fictional setting.

"It's kind of like how the Town of Hawkins in Stranger Things is a fantasy reflection of Durham," said House, whose book will investigate a fantasy version of the Triangle, based on real places.

The Village Subway, a lost music scene from the 1970s sealed away beneath the Village District in Raleigh, was a cultural phenomenon.

"It's hard to believe music legends like The Ramones, Pat Benatar, Iggy Pop and Bette Midler once played beneath the streets of downtown Raleigh," said House. "How did we ever lose such an important piece of North Carolina music history?"

Not only did these legends, and dozens more, play in the small, smokey series of clubs beneath the streets – it's actually where many of them got their start.

Fond memories of Raleigh's old party scene hidden below Cameron Village

Nearly 50 years later, the story of the Village Subway is still a viral topic in many online message boards – with younger generations longing to see and explore the mysterious underground music scene, and older generations recounting the magical nights they had in the Subway.

Like many people, House found himself wishing he could explore the Subway.

"Their stories and memories gave me context for the book as I wrote it, " said House. In particular, he learned a lot from Fred Decker, the former owner of Battle Stations, a popular arcade that was part of the Village Subway.

The book's protagonist, whose mother works at The Frog & Nightgown, a popular jazz club that anchored the Subway during its early years, takes the reader on an exploration of some of the Triangle's biggest mysteries.

House hopes his book will allow readers to "explore" places like the Village Subway, the Big Hole and the legendary CIA substation under 401 Oberlin.

For readers who spent their youths in the clubs beneath the Village Subway, he hopes the book will bring back some memories. The story will take readers from club to club, visiting places like The Pier, the Frog & Nightgown, the Bear's Den and Battle Stations.

"Obviously things are very fictitious. It's not a history book," he said. "But I hope it brings up some nostalgia."