Small Town America has its main street and each is unique yet very similar. Building style in the Americas was brought from Europe and as the people moved west they brought what they were familiar with.
The highway would divide the town and usually there was some railroad tracks next to the road. With the changes in style and moving to the burbs, style has changed. In the old neighborhoods of the city and out in the small towns the simple style can still be seen. There are no sleek and shiny buildings in these place, well usually.
Main street is maybe the highway or it is a cross street to the highway. Sometimes main street would be built around a town square, here the roads intersected and there would be a bandstand in the middle.
In my roaming I go through many small rural towns. Time permitting I stop and take a few pictures of Main Street.
The old hotels that are still standing are rare catches and made for interesting architecture. Pause and imagine the business that was transacted in the lobbies of these grand old buildings. Here is where the traveling peddler would stay. These small towns were important to him.
Nearby would be his customers, the clothing shop, hardware store, drug store or maybe the bank. I would love to have the wall of these old buildings talk to me.
Some have moved to these small towns and bought the old empty stores and made them into nice homes. Put some sweat equity into them.
Journey down the back roads, what is the next cross road reveal. Is there another adventure awaiting.
Hope you are having a great week. Winter is knocking on the door here. Below freezing and snow in the mountains.
4 comments:
In Missouri they routed the highways around the town squares which traffic never sees or rarely stops to visit the towns. This caused many towns to shrivel and lose money...then came WalMart which shut down many Mom an Pop stores in the little towns due to competition. If WalMart ever folds up folks will be in need. Think about it.
Have a good week John. I like your photos.
There are plenty of towns like that here in Montana. My Dad's family comes from a town much like that...big city Livingston, MT! It's in the thirties here this morning...you're right...winter is pretty much getting ready to beat down the door! Be blessed John.
John, I wish you would submit this with its pictures to Reminisce Magazine.
Sorry, this is Ramblingon. I was in my cat's blog and didn't log out before I made a comment.
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