What Makes a Town

Originally published in The Marcellus News, July 3, 1924

What makes a town anyway? Is it the wealth evidenced by the homes and splendid store buildings?
These may attest the stability and thrift of certain people, but they offer no great inducements to commercial and moral progress. Is it the spirit of good order and law observance? That is a factor only. The sleepiest old hamlets that dot the map have this spirit in rank abundance. Is it the schools and churches? May their number ever increase, but they don’t make a town – they only culture it. Is it the geographical location, the character of the country surrounding, the shipping facilities, the natural advantages?

None of these are essential.

Well, what is it that makes a town anyway?

Just one thing – the unity of the people, the existence of a common bond which causes business and social enemies to put aside all differences when it comes to boosting the town. No town ever made real progress in the way to substantial success without the get-together spirit unanimously adopted. It has rejuvenated old hulks of towns that were yawning their way into endless sleep. It has infused new life blood into the heart of commercial life and made thriving cities out of paralytic villages.

Natural advantages count for much and prosperity cannot be built upon shifting sand, but any town with half a chance can be made to grow and expand and thrive when its citizens join with one accord in the boosting program – Santa Anna California News.

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