Americana on Main Street

A not uncommon perception around the world is that North America is home to big sprawling cities. Yes, without a doubt the continent is doted with huge metropolis but in between these are thousands of small settlements without which the United States would not be “America”. 

Park Rapids in Minnesota is one of those truely Americana small towns and a place the Bazflyers have enjoyed for the past couple of days. In the vein of America’s small towns, Park Rapids visibly brims over with patriotic pride. It is home to history sites, celebrations, pristine nature areas and full of warmth, charm and the spirit of its locality.

More than a century after the American people migrated from the farms to the cities, the image of small-town America endures as the birthplace of solid character and sound values. An image that was unashamedly on display this evening on Main Street. The precinct was closed to traffic with town’s folk of every age group seated, standing, foot tapping and dancing to a popular band. The irresistible smell of German hot-dogs mingled with the music. Real hot-dogs with all the trimmings. The Bazflyers learned they were participating in a well attended weekly street event that proudly runs in the town all summer. 

“American politics may live in the cities — but it dreams in small towns”. So said a man named Arthur Morgan, who 75 years ago wrote a book called ‘The Small Community: Foundation of Democratic Life’. While many big-city residents might not worry about the fate of small towns, Morgan believed they should because the “controlling factors of civilisation are not art, business, science, government, these are its fruits”. He believed the roots of civilisation are elemental traits—good will, neighbourliness, fair play, courage, tolerance, open-minded inquiry, patience. Morgan wrote; “these traits are best transmitted from one generation to the next in small communities, from where they are then spread throughout entire societies. To erode small-town culture was to erode the culture of the nation”. As far as the Bazflyers could see these values were clearly on display down on Main Street.

A selection of images captured Down on Main Street....