tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872424549721246994.post1396703922212080951..comments2024-02-04T22:48:07.662-08:00Comments on FOLKWAYS NOTEBOOK: ARE SMALL TOWNS BECOMING MUSEUM SITES IN SITU?Folkways Note Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07168881905408345126noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872424549721246994.post-34305636982754373692010-07-02T15:22:35.217-07:002010-07-02T15:22:35.217-07:00Darcy -- It does seem like it takes strong leaders...Darcy -- It does seem like it takes strong leadership as well as community groups to bring a small town back to some vitality. I worked with Vista in Oregon helping small towns get back on their feet. The small towns in trouble have a host of problems besides the ones I mention above. Community conservatism, budgetary problems, infrastructure problems such as poor water quality, zoning, bad roads, and even broadband inaccessibility, which can make a difference. Yes, farmers markets, and art fairs are all part of the upward climb. And parades too can help build a community back to its former self. It is a long and arduous step by step process for small towns. -- barbaraFolkways Note Bookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07168881905408345126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872424549721246994.post-20160204148115165612010-06-11T15:31:50.132-07:002010-06-11T15:31:50.132-07:00Even though my husband's job tends to be near ...Even though my husband's job tends to be near big cities, we tend to locate in small nearby towns, enjoying the community found there. A few of the ways I have seen the small towns I've lived in promote themselves is through weekly farmer's markets and art fairs. Parades and festivals, long time draws for crowds are still very much alive as well.Darcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13474895637619727452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872424549721246994.post-24542490979671311542010-05-30T18:53:20.283-07:002010-05-30T18:53:20.283-07:00Hi June, Yes, I have noticed the small towns far f...Hi June, Yes, I have noticed the small towns far from urban centers have lots of empty parking spots along their streets and fewer people walking the sidewalks. It is my hope that small towns will find a niche that will bring back some of their former vitality. <br /><br />Thanks for the lovely comment -- barbaraFolkways Note Bookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07168881905408345126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872424549721246994.post-13574572611561979872010-05-29T17:05:21.484-07:002010-05-29T17:05:21.484-07:00Lovely post -- and those theatre seats! Love them...Lovely post -- and those theatre seats! Love them. My mother, dead 12 years now, was a great SST-er, although her destination tended to be a state park. She did not like to drive so when I visited it was "let's go ..." and in her part of the country there was nothing but small towns. They felt increasingly lonely as fewer and fewer people were on the streets. But there were county seats with courthouses giving dignity to the towns and a few restored covered bridges. I remember many drives, especially in autumn with briliant leaves, making small towns festive.June Calenderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00265808476144632255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872424549721246994.post-57853291799910169442010-05-26T14:35:22.845-07:002010-05-26T14:35:22.845-07:00Hi LiD, Interesting that even in Australia you hav...Hi LiD, Interesting that even in Australia you have a similar urban pattern. Urban expansion in the U.S.means reaching beyond the established urban areas and forming more development -- like trees rings, forming ring after ring around the original urban area. You can tell the time-frame of expansion by the architecture. This expansion gobbles up small towns, villages and farm land with a vengeance. And like your fringe areas, the people don't have roots there, and as a result are not stakeholders in the area. <br /><br />Thanks for the good comments! -- barbaraFolkways Note Bookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07168881905408345126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872424549721246994.post-2429932087034782512010-05-25T20:31:41.409-07:002010-05-25T20:31:41.409-07:00Those stairs and railings are beautiful relics.
I...Those stairs and railings are beautiful relics. <br />I love finding signs of the past like that too.<br /><br />You have great ideas for sustaining small towns. <br /><br />Thinking about where I live I haven't seen the development of a work from home/online jobs market, which would allow people to move out to small towns. We also have fast moving urban expansion,and many small country towns close to Melbourne are being consumed by housing developments. This is making it harder for people to have a country lifestyle, and work in the city. <br /><br />Sadly, many of these city fringe developments aren't very people or history friendly either; they tend to consist of very uniform, crowded housing stock.LiDhttp://onelittledetail.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872424549721246994.post-11388002611269752472010-05-23T16:01:20.852-07:002010-05-23T16:01:20.852-07:00Vicki,
I checked out the web site featuring Marsh...Vicki, <br />I checked out the web site featuring Marshall, N.C. What a tiny little town -- only 840 according to the 2000 census! I see that the site included other small towns in the area and the types of rural and artistic attractions they have to offer. Also, they have a driving tour featuring historical, cultural, scenic and natural interests that can be picked up at the local chamber office. It appears that the area is really attempting to restate itself. Do you know if they are getting dollars from a grant to restore the buildings you mentioned? Building restoration needs preservationists that can assist with recommendations for the proper materials. I recently ran into a restoration project that had the money to do so properly but botched the job as they did not use the right technical or sensitive people or materials. <br /><br />Thanks for mentioning this NC town! -- barbaraFolkways Note Bookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07168881905408345126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872424549721246994.post-34436435573027242842010-05-23T10:49:42.606-07:002010-05-23T10:49:42.606-07:00Marshall, NC -- the small town twenty minutes away...Marshall, NC -- the small town twenty minutes away from me --- is re-inventing itself by restoring old building to their original look. It also has an energetic Arts Council which is making a real difference in folks' perception of the town.<br /><br />Good post -- good ideas!Vicki Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08114677510459055768noreply@blogger.com