Welcome to Holton
Cheryl Unruh
Originally published 01:54 p.m., February 19, 2008
Updated 01:54 p.m., February 19, 2008
Some people are “I Love Lucy” fans; others favor “The Beverly Hillbillies.”
But me, I’m an “Andy Griffith” girl.
Recently, I watched several black-and-white episodes from Mayberry and I think it’s possible that those old shows have certain healing qualities.
Mayberry is that ideal hometown in which life is laid back and friendly. There are no strangers -- but if one comes to town, Andy and Barney will check him out.
The town is so homey that you know there must be an apple pie cooling on every kitchen counter. Evenings in Mayberry often find Andy, Barney and Aunt Bee sitting on the front porch, enjoying the silence.
The slow-day atmosphere of Mayberry reminds me of those easy feelings from my childhood days growing up in Pawnee Rock.
Pawnee Rock was never as seamless as Mayberry, but in the 1960s, the days of relative safety, many people in my hometown left their houses unlocked, day and night.
Small towns were peaceful havens. And although much has changed in the world in the past 40 years, some communities still offer those feelings of comfort and security.
Occasionally I’ll pass through a Kansas town, one which brings back the mellow hometown feelings from my childhood.
Last summer I found Holton.
One evening in June, I returned to Kansas after a day’s visit in Iowa and Nebraska. Driving south on U.S. 75, I stopped in Holton to photograph the Jackson County Courthouse.
Downtown Holton was a few blocks east of the highway. I passed through a tree-filled residential neighborhood and at the town square, I parked and walked around.
It was a Saturday, about 7 p.m., and shops were closed. The angled light from the west emphasized architectural details on the buildings. A warm glow fell over downtown Holton.
A strong and sturdy building, the Jackson County Courthouse was surrounded by the green grass of summer. Four columns highlighted the 1920 brick and stone building.
I walked across the lawn where trees shaded a gazebo and a few picnic tables. In a corner of the square, cone flowers and daylilies bloomed.
Across the street in all four directions, trees lined the concrete sidewalks which were accented with inlaid red bricks.
Holton’s town square had many two-story buildings with handsome, old architecture. And the newspaper, the Holton Recorder, was in an attractive, low-flung brick building, conveniently located across from the courthouse.
This town of 3,400 people was tidy and neat. Downtown buildings were occupied -- the dream of every small community.
There was one business in particular that I was drawn to: Ginger Snips, Salon of Beauty.
Ginger Snips had an eye-catching storefront: a blue-green awning with matching trim and lettering on the plate-glass window. Complementing that green, two red metal chairs sat on the sidewalk. A washtub with cascading flowers stood between the chairs. Off to the right, an American flag completed the scene.
Ginger Snips dispensed a clear message: welcome.
And I heard myself saying aloud, “I could live in a place like this.”
In recent years, I’ve passed through many Kansas towns and each has its own aura. Some towns have good vibes, some don’t.
It’s never just one attraction or business that provides the uplifting atmosphere in a town; it’s the attitude of an entire community. When residents create a positive environment, even strangers feel energized there.
Now I don’t know what it’s like to live in Holton, but the town gave me a pleasant first impression. It felt like home.
Holton isn’t Mayberry. No real community matches that ideal. But Holton is inviting and comfortable; it just might be America’s hometown.
“Flyover People” is online at www.flyoverpeople.net. • Cheryl Unruh can be reached at cheryl@flyoverpeople.net.