Drive down any interstate in the United States, and the sights are the same. Sure, the terrain and weather differ—Eastern Colorado sports the Great Plains and the Southern Rockies, and snow blowers are roaring in Minnesota even while tourists are basking in the sun of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. Apart from those differences, these highways are mostly one and the same.
The high speeds require a driver’s complete attention to the road, and the off-ramps generally feature the same bill of fare: fast food restaurants, chain motels, gas stations, and some occasional signage urging travelers to come see some local attraction.
Meanwhile, embedded all around this spiderweb of expressways are the United States’ communities and small towns. Some of these places are distinguished by odd names, such as Whynot, North Carolina; Truth or Consequences, New Mexico; and Popejoy, Iowa. Some have served as the stage for history’s dramas, such as Osawatomie, Kansas, and Williamsburg, Virginia.
For the most part, however, many see these towns, when they see them at all, as ordinary and dull, scarcely worth a glance. Eager to make Thanksgiving dinner at Aunt Zelda’s country estate, the family from D.C. leaves I-81 and blows through Strasburg, Virginia, little noting the Victorian buildings and unaware of the many annual events hosted by the town.
Even some of the folks who reside in such dots on the map may have given little thought as to why their towns have survived or why they shine with vibrancy and pride.
The answer is simple, really. It lies in the talents and passions of those who love and care for these communities.
Working Hand-in-Hand
Billed as the “Gateway to the Shenandoah Valley,” Warren County, Virginia, has a population of about 40,000. Take away 15,000 residents living in the county seat, Front Royal, and you’ll find the rest scattered among hamlets, neighborhoods, and farms.Butler also works very much with the people through what he calls “community policing.” He speaks to many different organizations to explain the mission of the department, but then he takes it another step by asking them what specific problems they face and what solutions they might suggest.
“We’re trying to build a culture within our ranks to get the community to become one with the sheriff’s department,” Butler said. “I have two individuals, Lieutenant Robbie Seal and Sergeant Terry Fritts, who deal with community policing and outreach. The majority of our officers volunteer and want to be a part of this. We’re trying to build a culture within the ranks to get the community one with the sheriff’s office.”
The department’s website lists numerous outreach and education programs reflecting this emphasis. Butler himself takes a particular interest in the senior center, where he often plays music and attends luncheons.
“The only way to make a community safe is everyone working together hand-in-hand,“ he said. ”Without that, we’re never going to get anywhere.”
A Gem in the Mountains
“We’re there for people after the casseroles stop,” Janet Speer, professor emeritus of theater, said.Banner Elk’s permanent population is about 1,000. Often, the mountain town is bustling in the winter with skiers from the nearby slopes, and in the summer with hikers, campers, and part-time residents escaping the heat of the flatlands. The town is also home to Lees-McRae College, where Speer and her husband, Allen, a professor emeritus of humanities, each taught for more than 40 years.
In their teaching, the Speers affected the lives of two generations of students. In their countless hours of engagement and volunteerism, they’ve enriched Banner Elk’s “spirit of community.”
The Little Library With the Big Heart
“I really think the library is the hub of our community,” said Suzy Bomgardner, the outgoing director of the Unicoi County Public Library in Erwin, Tennessee.“I love Erwin. It’s a quirky little town,” she said. “And in my experience, the library is unique. I’ve worked at all sorts of libraries, and this one is special. It’s warm and inviting, and the people who come in really want the best for each other.”
Three other attributes set this library apart. For one, it occupies the town’s beautiful old train station. Stick around long enough, and a freight train will roll by just yards away from the building. For another, every March, the library helps deck out the town in crocheted art. Called the “Yarn Bomb,” the library celebrates “National Read Across America” week by draping tree trunks, utility poles, fences, and park benches with colorful crocheted mantles of yarn. Finally, a cat named Story resides permanently among the books. The library recently celebrated her 10th birthday.
Casey Groll, age 27, newly married and new to Erwin, works the front desk and is also the library’s teen and homeschooling coordinator. She and her husband wanted to own a house in a small town and found that in Erwin.
“People want to stick around here ’cause it’s special,” she said. “And I think it’s the fact that it’s a small town that’s genuinely a small town. It’s mostly local people doing business here. There’s something kind of dreamy about it.”
Faithful and Loving Servants
Suzy Bomgardner often puts in a 70-hour work week, with much of that time devoted to writing grants and planning events that will keep the library afloat. Casey Groll sparkles with enthusiasm for her job and the community she serves.“This is my dream job,” she said. In their decades-long commitment to Lees-McRae and Banner Elk, Janet and Allen Speer have volunteered countless hours to community activities, especially in theater. Sheriff Mark Butler is on the job 24/7 with his department’s police work, his engagement in the community, and his time spent as a volunteer.
In other words, keeping a small town alive and well requires elbow grease, intelligence, and fire in the belly.
Like many readers, I closely follow the daily news in our country, and consider with more than a little dismay the often dreary headlines. Speaking with the people mentioned above, however, reminded me that across this land are millions of men and women just like them, ordinary people who are really not so ordinary at all seeking daily to do their jobs well, to improve the towns and cities where they live, and to boost the spirits of their communities, large or small.
In our present age of turmoil, they are my heroes.