Apalachin Community Press, August 1999

Annie's Corner

by Anne O. Stout

Hello! Here I am coming to you from a small historic town in southern New Jersey to a small historic town in central New York. Soon I will be changing my residency from here to there. (I also grew up in a small historic town in northeastern Pennsylvania.)

One thing I notice all small towns have in common in the United States is their pride in the town's history. Don't get me wrong, that is great, but you just don't find this pride in the cities. It's been my experience that the city dwellers I've met don't even know the history of their city.

Most small towns have the resident families, you know the ones that have had family living there forever. Glassboro, where I am now, was founded in the 1700's and grew up around the glass factories that were so much a part of the landscape in those days. Some family names have been a part of the town since the early factories (like Stanger and Whitney). People that do any digging can find chunks of colored glass, also a clue to the early days.

Small towns are closer knit. Ever notice how everyone seems to know everyone else or at least a family member? And sometimes what they don't know they will make up, cause small towns are notorious for the gossip that seems to seep from every wall and building. (Actually if every wall could talk, imagine the stories you would hear.)

After several moves around this interesting country of ours, (I've lived in Virginia, and Rhode Island as well) I can also attest that most small towns have a favorite hangout for local residents like a bar, diner, or ice cream shop. You can really hear the best stories there. Not gossip, but the stories that will eventually lead to legends about some local character. These are the tales that make America the inspirational country it is today.

For instance in a small town in northern New Jersey I met this lady who had these two animals, male and female, that looked like llamas only much bigger. She had them flown there from South America cause there are in danger of becoming extinct. The pasture where they roam is right in the center of town and she is playing romantic music for them as they have not procreated in two years. (With all the tourists and locals watching, I personally think the animals are just shy.)

Many people feel we dwell on the morbid, the violent, the gore beyond human understanding, to the point where we get fed up and even turn off the faithful friend, the television.

Don't get discouraged, go to a small town, walk into the nearest friendly door, (a public place of course) and just listen. The local fold lore can be very interesting and who knows you might learn some of the town's history while there.

Check with me in about a year and bet I will be able to tell you a few stories myself about your locals.