Small Town America
There’s a lot that can be said about small towns. I found that out last weekend when I participated in Tecumseh Trailblazers walk in North Lewisburg in northeastern Champaign County in west central Ohio.
I knew North Lewisburg was the mailing address for Triad High School. But that’s all.
I found a lot more in that little place, but never did find the high school.
The first part of the walk took us down the rail trail. I like those trails because it is a solid surface but you don’t have to worry about cars. Bikes, yes; but not cars. This day we had it to ourselves. Another nice thing about walking out and back on a trail is that you get to see a lot of people. I met up with the woman who had the afghan made for walk I participated in last summer. My name was drawn and she advised me I was the winner, but that she didn’t bring the afghan along with her that day.
I came to a covered bridge a couple miles down the road. It had once crossed a stream, but had since been moved and refurbished. The sign on top said Pottersburg. All I could think of was Pottersville from “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Had I been a couple generations younger, I may have thought Harry Potter.
As I approached the bridge, a young woman was taking photographs of a young man. I asked her if she was practicing to be the photographer for “Bridges of Madison County,” and she chuckled. Perhaps she was taking photos for senior pictures. It was a beautiful fall day for it.
The second half of the walk went through the town. It seemed as though we covered a great distance but we saw a lot. The sights began with a memorial to our veterans. Almost every town has one but yet no two are alike.
Many of the houses we passed were old homes, nicely kept up. Rounding a corner we came across a white clapboard church and I was surprised to see it was a Catholic Church. Its purple doors reminded me of one near home that everyone knows as the Church with the Purple Doors. Across the road and in the middle of a grassy plot stood a brick building that had once been a Friends Church but was now a library.
Ah, the charm of a small town.
Walking in a small town or a large city, you’ll find one to your liking by checking out www.ava.org . Or email me at sandlot17@juno.com and I’ll help you find a great walk.
There’s a lot that can be said about small towns. I found that out last weekend when I participated in Tecumseh Trailblazers walk in North Lewisburg in northeastern Champaign County in west central Ohio.
I knew North Lewisburg was the mailing address for Triad High School. But that’s all.
I found a lot more in that little place, but never did find the high school.
The first part of the walk took us down the rail trail. I like those trails because it is a solid surface but you don’t have to worry about cars. Bikes, yes; but not cars. This day we had it to ourselves. Another nice thing about walking out and back on a trail is that you get to see a lot of people. I met up with the woman who had the afghan made for walk I participated in last summer. My name was drawn and she advised me I was the winner, but that she didn’t bring the afghan along with her that day.
I came to a covered bridge a couple miles down the road. It had once crossed a stream, but had since been moved and refurbished. The sign on top said Pottersburg. All I could think of was Pottersville from “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Had I been a couple generations younger, I may have thought Harry Potter.
As I approached the bridge, a young woman was taking photographs of a young man. I asked her if she was practicing to be the photographer for “Bridges of Madison County,” and she chuckled. Perhaps she was taking photos for senior pictures. It was a beautiful fall day for it.
The second half of the walk went through the town. It seemed as though we covered a great distance but we saw a lot. The sights began with a memorial to our veterans. Almost every town has one but yet no two are alike.
Many of the houses we passed were old homes, nicely kept up. Rounding a corner we came across a white clapboard church and I was surprised to see it was a Catholic Church. Its purple doors reminded me of one near home that everyone knows as the Church with the Purple Doors. Across the road and in the middle of a grassy plot stood a brick building that had once been a Friends Church but was now a library.
Ah, the charm of a small town.
Walking in a small town or a large city, you’ll find one to your liking by checking out www.ava.org . Or email me at sandlot17@juno.com and I’ll help you find a great walk.
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