Small Towns Are Like A Little Baby

Metamora in some ways is like a little baby- it needs a lot of attention from caring people in order to flourish.

I suppose big towns and cities are the same way, but there are more people to go around and do the work in a large population center- and more money too. But our little village of Metamora only has a few hundred people in residence, and many of those just sleep in their quaint little historic homes, mostly on the north side of the canal.

The number of Metamora shopkeepers or business owners that are lucky enough to live in or near the town and care about keeping the history intact, and have the time or resources to actually work at it, is pretty small. Maybe 20 or 30 people. This number includes several local people who don't operate a business in the historic district, but are just as fascinated with the village, and willing to help out.

Those are the ones that make most of the plans and arrangements for the annual Metamora events throughout the year, try to keep the business directories up to date for our visitors (the tourists), get the advertising things made up, decorations put up and taken down, etc. And of course, work their own jobs or operate their own business at the same time.

So if some things aren't always perfect, you'll have to forgive us. We'll try harder next time. If we can just figure out how to re-arrange or stretch some more hours.

But I think we all do it because we think Metamora is one of the most fascinating places in the country. We certainly don't do it for money- there isn't much of that around.

Metamora is truly beautiful and unique. You can almost taste the history of a bygone era that was so important to forming our great nation. So our "little baby" is older than the civil war, but still needs a lot of care to see it flourish.

And that is why we give it our energy- we do it for love of history and the American small town.

Fourth Time's A Charm

See the article below to understand the headline here.

Old Towns and Modern Computers

I guess the 1850's vintage town of Metamora was never supposed to be modernized- it resists most forms of modernization.

Take internet access for example: There is no cable internet access, nor DSL or high-speed wireless. You CAN get Verizon broadband, but it works only when it feels like it, which is a lot of the time, but fails at the critical moment. As best I can figure, there must be a few of the old town ghosts that monitor people's computer usage and send out disruptive energy waves at just the right time...

Then, there is cell-phone service. None work unless you've got Verizon, so don't bother with your AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile- you get the picture.

Computers just don't seem to function well in the rarified Metamora air- I'm sure some geek could come up with a technical reason for this, but I just know it's true.  Probably why a lot of local people just don't bother with them- half our locals can't even spell "PC".  But then again, more modernization will just erase the term "PC" anyway as it gets replaced by "Smart Phone", another challenge for the old ghosts to take on.

Attitudes of some long-time residents are the same way- they resist modernization of such concepts as incorporation, new sewer systems, working WITH other local merchants and county officials instead of bellyaching ABOUT them.

But then again, I guess the lack of modernization is part of the charm of living here. Sure reminds of me of living in Andy Griffith's Mayberry RFD. Which really IS charming, knowing that this form of community still exists as a part of living history.

Now trying for the FOURTH time to publish this blog article from my computer throught the Verizon broadband thing.....