My Hometown

Finally, after my lifetime of being on Main Street, the Locke Fire Dept. is getting their new firehouse.  It will sit adjacent to their  "Fair" pavilions and banquet facility that they previously constructed on their property north of the hamlet.  It's all theirs!  Seems like a simple sentence but many have worked hard for a building that they would own, they could manage and they could say was all theirs for a long, long time.  I remember the very first year that the Fair came to Locke.  Jeff was a toddler and I had one of those huge, carry over your shoulder , state of the art video cameras. I filmed it all! There were no buildings, no power, no water, no nothing... Everything was moved to the fairgrounds by pick up, car, wagon, fire truck or trailer.  Tents were erected, picnic tables borrowed, used equipment purchased and all hands were on deck. If it rained, you got wet!  If the wind blew, you crossed your fingers and hoped the tents stayed safely bound down. If the people came, you made money... if they didn't, you lost your a$$, cleaned it all up and looked forward to the next year and the time when you could raise enough capital, garner borrowing power and build your dream facility.... one building at a time.  It's time!


This new facility will allow safer egress and ingress to the highway....something that the Department has stressed over for many years.  Safety has forever been an issue and it will now be a problem alleviated.  I'm sure we're all guilty of complaining about something in our little town but until you've walked a mile in their shoes, saved the majority of the hamlet from sheer destruction, pulled victims from burning buildings or mangled vehicles and all unpaid......it's most likely a good idea to "zip it!"


Hopefully the old "firehouse", which is owned by the town, will be revamped as useful and accessible town offices.  Main Street is seeing an uptick of new, young families eager to raise their families in a small town.  Families who will enjoy the camaraderie of their neighbors, the joy of kids riding their bikes, the holiday celebrations and some of the less stressful things of growing up. It worked for us!


Let's continue to support our local fire department. The fair will be here is a few weeks, pancake breakfasts will resume in the fall and remember that just one call to 911 and they'll be there in an instant. Donations are always accepted and appreciated...Let's continue to appreciate what we have!


( I know you've seen a lot of we's and our's and I no longer live in the hamlet... but my heart will always be where I grew up....my hometown!)