As John Cougar Melloncamp sang, I was raised in a small
town. People valued Main Street, with Woody’s grocery, Odell’s drugstore, the
library, bank, you get the idea. We even had a men’s clothing store and a
fabric shop. Mom knew if I walked downtown after school for a scout meeting, my
friends and I were safe.
My work in progress is set in the fictional small
town of Turtle Creek, Ohio. The town’s
growing in size and acquiring a taste for arts and crafts, college kids and
coffee. I’ve enjoyed researching and
visiting small towns as I pieced Turtle Creek together.
One of the villages I considered is on my route to
and from work. The street corners host huge planters of pink petunias accented
by purple and green. The sidewalks have a terra cotta brick trim. The drug store
window invites the shopper in with an eclectic array of gift items. They even
have a donut shop, florist and antique store, that make you want to stop and
visit. Yet, the sites I enjoy most are not stores or eateries, but murals. This
little town boasts a painting that invites the passerby for donuts or pizza.
The other rings out the history of the town. If you’re familiar with Williamsburg,
Ohio, you know what I’m talking about. A small town treasure.
Do you have a favorite small town? If so, where?