C.O. Montgomery
“In this life, we are all just walking up the Mountain. We can climb and sing as we climb, or we can complain about our sore feet. Whichever we choose, we still gotta do the hike. I decided a long time ago that SINGING made more sense.” (Anonymous quote).
So what does community mean to you? Community is loosely defined as the place you work, play or live in. It can be real or imaginary. We all have both. For example, I physically reside, in the real community of New Palestine, Indiana. However I also “exist” in other communities. I submit that you the reader do also.
I chose this topic as an outgrowth of a discussion I had at one of my local “coffee house” meetings. A former, well-know local restaurateur, (which will remain nameless), was lamenting the fact that we as a society have somehow lost this feeling of community. I can see his point. New Palestine is not the same community that it was when my family chose to move here in 1978. But, neither is Greenfield, Hancock County nor any other city, town or hamlet in these United States. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
My friend went on to say that he felt the turning point was 9/11. He may be right. His contention is that prior to 9/11, we as a society were more open, more trusting and less “jaundiced” towards our fellow man. Using New Palestine as an example, we had a town marshal, Ron Gray. Ron knew everyone in town by name. Ron would show up every morning for breakfast at Bonnies. When Bonnies was no more, he would show up at another local establishment. Whether that was Marie’s, Hardees, (yes there was Hardees where the present-day McDonalds stands).
Ron was a “square shooter.” He lived in town with his wife and two sons. One knew better than to speed through his town. And, don’t let him catch you driving drunk either. True confession, since I am a “tee-tootler.” I never drove drunk through town. But, my younger days “Deputy Dog,” as he was affectionately called did reel me in a couple of times for speeding. Each time was the same. He chewed me out, then he would smile and say “Don’t let me catch you doing this again.”
So what happened after 911? I submit that the world manifested it’s contempt for authority. We all watched in horror as those days turned into weeks, months and years of sheer hell for all the first responders. I recently talked to our current New Palestine Town Marshall. Bob Ehle took over when Ron retired. Bob had been a first responder on the Sugar Creek Township Fire Department. He echoed my statement.
“Our community is growing exponentially. But, so are other comminutes.”
Bob and his deputies do an excellent job of patrolling and fighting crime in our community. So why have we felt the loss of community? I maintain it is a dichotomy. It sort of depends upon how one looks at the community. Part of it is technology and a faster pace of living. For example, today most first responders are super busy chasing after bad guys and literally stomping out fires. It is more convenient for them to use the drive-through rather than get out of their vehicles and go into local business. I also believe that our drive-through society erodes our sense of community. Some first responders feel that the only time they are called to a local business is whenever there is problem.
It is the proverbial question: Do we accept growth and change? Do we go back to the “good ole days” when we basically used only volunteers to respond? I was fortunate enough to serve as Sugar Creek Township Trustee during this transitional time. I saw a lot of growth in our community, ranging from a primarily volunteer fire department and an understaffed police department.
When I reminisce about our community, my mind goes back to old friends that have since passed on. Guys like Wayne Broshier, Big “O,” former town manager David Book, “Stylie” Morris, “Vic” Boring, Max and Millie Hendryx, Jack Innis, and Barbra Mattingly, just to name a few.
But with each passing generation, life springs eternal with a new community. A new community filled with new generations of bright, young educated folk. We in our community can boast of four of the best educational corporations in the state of Indiana. Under the leadership of Steve Long, Hancock Regional Health Corporation is an innovator nationwide. Our churches may have consolidated. Some have changed names, but there is no lack of spiritual guidance in our community.
So, was my friend the former restaurateur right? To some extent he was. In our fast, hustle-bustle, technological world, we have somewhat lost our sense of community. But, I go back to my opening statements we all “exist” in either a “real” or “imaginary” community. No, New Palestine, Hancock County, nor the State of Indiana is the same community I moved into in 1978. As I mentioned, the people, restaurants, education and houses of worship have changed. As Bob Ehle has said, “We have grown exponentially.” My hope and prayer is that this ever-changing community will continue to be a community in which future generation will be proud of. Just as I am.
C.O. Montgomery of New Palestine is a former teacher and former Sugar Creek Township trustee.
