Many old towns were built around the town square. Businesses, cafés, benches, and friendly folks were a welcome sight to residents as well as passersby. Some of you probably remember those days and were even among the number of those who “cruised the square” or sat on a park bench licking an ice cream cone or sipping on a cherry coke or shake purchased at the local soda fountain.
One small community in which we lived had a town square but there were very few businesses lined along the street. The square was more like a square with rounded corners. This town square had a fountain in the center. Some days, that was the talk of the town. Well, those were the days that followed the nights when some of the teenaged kids soaped the fountain, sometimes even in color. This small patch of greenspace was donated to the community in the mid-1800’s by a lady from one of the prominent families of the town. For being such a small plot, it sure was a popular spot.
On one side of the square was a small store. You could buy a candy bar and coke for about 15 cents. That’s when cokes really were the “real thing”. Candy displayed in racks included candy cigarettes much to my mother’s disapproval. The store was a short walk from our house, so if change rattled in my pocket, I would go to the store for a treat. My first choice was a Milky Way bar, but if I bought candy cigarettes, I hid them away.
The Post Office was on another side of the square where people came for more than mail. There was a lot of chatter as neighbors met and got caught up on the town gossip and the goings-on of family members, sometimes one and the same.
Across from the store on the other side of the square stood the United Methodist Church as a beacon to the community. Of course, we spent quite a bit of time there since my dad was the preacher. The land for the church building was given by the same benefactor as the parcel given for the square. The local churches were vital to the community. They provided a place to worship and a place for the community to come together and serve one another in time of need, sickness, or tragedy.
In the summer, there was a Marigold Festival complete with parade, and an occasional celebrity in the mix. Vendors, train rides, ball games, food, square dancing, and bands made the festival an attraction for residents as well as tourists. My sister was even a candidate for Miss Marigold one year. The whole city was planted in marigolds of various kinds. Everything was groomed and pretty with marigolds blooming in bright colors. There was a downside however – it didn’t smell too good. Marigolds are not the sweetest smelling blooms! The festival was an annual event from 1971 to 2002. However, the buzz is that the festival will return in 2022.
Though all of these were inviting characteristics of small-town living, there was another favorite of mine – the Bookmobile. We knew ahead of time when it would be parked at the town square in our little community. I loved going into the Bookmobile and rummaging through all the book titles and making my selection. It was almost magical to me. Books I might have overlooked in a library had a special appeal in the Bookmobile.
As I look back through the years, I feel richer and greatly appreciative of having the privilege to live in small towns with a big sense of community. Those are good places to call home.
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