June 6, 2005 5:14 PM
Life in a small town
I live in the country, on a dirt road, about six miles from the small town of Purcellville (population less than 4000). Purcellville's the kind of place you see in movies – with no movie theater of its own, only one franchise drive-thru, three stoplights (up from one two years ago), and a huge water tower looming across the street from the high school, the perfect place for emblazoning the name of the school team: the Vikings.
On holidays, they run two rows of American flags down each side of Main Street(yes, it is named Main Street), which is less than a mile through town and boasts big, comfortable looking houses with wide front porches graced with rocking chairs.
A little slice of Americana.
To give you an idea of what life is like here, between May 12 and May 21, the Sheriff's Calls section of our weekly paper carried only two
Sheriff's Calls
May 12, 9:38 p.m. Pursuit: Mercedes Alvarado-Argueta, 49, of Winchester was charged with disregarding a signal to stop by law enforcement and slow and impending (sic) the flow of traffic on Route 7 west of Route 9 in Paeonian Springs. A deputy observed Alvarado-Argueta driving along Route 7 at 35 m.p.h. and he was drifting back and forth along the roadway. At one point, the driver left the roadway onto the shoulder. He drove two miles before he stopped.
May 21, 10:30 p.m.: Aggravated assault: A 15-year-old boy says he was playing in a wooded area oin the 13000 block of Mountain Road, Purcellville, when a BB pellet struck him in the head. The teen was taken to the Invoa Loudoun Hospital Cornwall Campus ER where the pellet was removed.
And there you have it -- the reason the Purcellville police force looks so relaxed!
Comments
That sounds sooooooo nice. I've got family up in Louden Co., Ashburn...I don't think it's that rural though. I haven't actually been to the town part...just the development where they live.
Posted by: Sal | June 6, 2005 7:19 PM
I have a fun one for you Barbara- in the crime log of my parents' local newspaper, someone had called the POLICE to help her to pull out a blanket which had been stuck in the dryer. I hope she tipped the officer who showed up.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 6, 2005 8:06 PM
Sal -- Ashburn is on the other side of Loudoun, which has not had as much control of growth and is definitely not rural anymore. I think they have about 7 high schools over there -- compared to one here, although they're planning a second one in a few years. Loudoun was the fastest growing county in the US last year, but it really is more like two counties, as this side has very strict zoning and a lot of houses on acreage.
Jennifer -- I think a lot of people would love you to post that crime log each week!!
Posted by: barbara | June 6, 2005 10:43 PM
I love it! I would have never dreamed of a life like that before I got married. My husband was born and raised in a very small farming community. When we got married I left my lifetime home of southern CA (where I never actually knew where my town's limits stopped and the next one started) and moved to rural Indiana. It was definitely culture shock. We didn't even have a McD's at the time. I'm thankful that our police/sherriff is just as bored as yours is. It's a great life, isn't it? A wonderful place to raise a family IMHO.
Posted by: Beckie | June 7, 2005 10:34 AM
When we visit Amish country, we sometimes pick up The Budget, the Amish newspaper. Two reports: Someone was driving a vehicle with a child not strapped into a carseat; an unaccompanied beagle was running alongside the road.
Posted by: Julana | June 7, 2005 11:13 AM
I live in the country on a dirt road about 11 miles from the village of Pickardville, pop. approx. 100. :P The nearest town is Westlock, pop. 4000, and an hour from the city.
Barbara, I have to tell you, I really appreciate your blog. A friend gave me your link about a week ago, and I've been reading when I can since. I especially appreciate your words of wisdom about writing.
Posted by: Willena | June 9, 2005 1:29 AM
