On Fri, 23 Apr 2004 20:36:08 GMT, "slenon"
wrote:

Now we have several empty storefronts and a bunch of antique
shops who never seem to have anyone inside when I go in. Development
in the town has shifted to the area around Wallyworld, with several
fast food places and motels being built in the last few years. It has
brought growth to some parts of the community but it seems to have
removed any sense of community from the growth, if you get my drift.
g.c.

This matches my experience in two small towns. Store after store closed and
the buildings remained empty when I was last in either town.
Fortunately, both were county seats so there remains a small population of
attorneys, bail bondsmen, and various other occupations common to courthouse
squares that still occupy some of the store fronts and upper floor offices.

People who once walked to full-time jobs with benefits must now find
transportation to the far edges of town to work part-time jobs with no
benefits.
People who once proudly made and bought products made in the USA now make
nothing and buy poorly made Chinese copies of the shoes, shirts, pants, and
other products they no longer manufacture.

Sponsoring a little league or soccer team doesn't quite make up for the way
that small town squares look at 3:00 PM on a weekday.


Merrill is the county seat of Lincoln county. I can vouch for the
attorney offices. As far as bail bondsmen...I think they take chickens
and other produce in trade for prisoners at the county jail.


g.c.