While on a road trip have you ever passed through a small town and get the feeling that you must stop? In Springview, it was the subtle clues, a zebra painted house and the nearby retro gas station that lured us out of the car to take a walk around. A tree offering shade in the park to eat our lunch was a bonus in the 100+F temperature in the middle of July in North Central, Nebraska. Plus, they had internet. It was not much but also a whole lot.
It was mid-day and mid-week and although every business had an open sign in the window the only person, we encountered was a man dropping off his phone bill in the mail slot at the telephone company. He then called his wife on the pay phone outside to share the news. I thought “Wow, I really haven’t seen that in a while”. That is when I realized what the attraction was. We weren’t just visiting a place but also stirring up the sense that we were traveling back in time. This sentiment is missed when driving through a small town and can only be experienced by observing the details.
Without any other clues the facades prompted a story that I crafted in my head about “The good life” in Springview as the highway state welcome signs say. This includes the rodeo, especially for local boy Tate who had a big event coming up. Farming, books, haircuts, patriotism, the lounge, and the Huskers are also a part of the good life.
I could tell, many people in town are very handy at fixing things. This isn’t just done to save the planet or money, but the people of Springview value quality goods worth fixing. You know, “They just don’t make things like they used to”.
During that short stop the story I created is my lasting impression of the town. I don’t know how much of the story that I tell myself is true. All I know is that during the time we spent there I felt a strong sense of a place from another time and the people that inhabit it. I like it there and would love to return to meet some of the 250 residents and hear their stories about the good life in the Heartland.
