Eyota, Minnesota, USA

Defining Main Street: The City Hall. If a place is incorporated under the laws of the state, it must have a municipal building. In the case of cities, these administrative headquarters are probably called city halls. In the past, their architecture was almost always meant to command respect. What to you think of the Eyota city hall's public face? [2019]

Winooski, Vermont, USA

In the 1970s, no one was impressed with a building just because it was over a hundred years old. In fact, the Winooski Block was lucky to have survived the urban renewal movement: The rest of the neighborhood was leveled. In the 1980s (see the cars!), the building was refurbished and now hosts stores on the ground level and 24 apartments upstairs. [1983]

Bismarck, North Dakota, USA

Odds and Evens, Ones and Twos, Singles and Doubles, Which one be You? Here are two frontiersmen who will forevermore occupy the historical record as partners: Lewis and Clark. On this date in 1804, they reached what would become North Dakota. The setting: part of the original Lewis and Clark trail, which is now a numbered (look again!) highway. [2021]

Selby, South Dakota, USA

What does your town have to make it proud? Perhaps something unique like an old opera house. In all likelihood, though, the stage in this building served a variety of performance-hall functions. Maybe it never even hosted a real opera. But, it didn't matter: The name alone lent some class to Selby, a town which never reached even a thousand inhabitants. [2021]

Portland, Oregon, USA

Jane Jacobs tied the safety of cities to maximizing the number of "eyes on the street." The same could be said for the safety of parking lots. Fortunately, this one has a half dozen people watching over it. But wait! They don't seem to be paying much attention to the cars. [2011]

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Churches have a lock on pride-of-place in many cities. That's true for one of the Methodist Church's founding structures. "Old Otterbein" was built in 1771 as a United Brethren Church and the next year became the place where John Wesley's followers organized Baltimore's Lovely Lane Chapel, now known as the 'mother church of American Methodism.' [2021]

Knotts Island, North Carolina, USA

High school commencement ceremonies are now over, and graduates have been released into the world. Those from Knotts Island will have stories to tell that are different from most. These grads had to take a bus to the county's only high school, but the bus had to be ferried across Currituck Sound. That's a 45 minute ride every day, each way. What fun! [2021]

Matthews, North Carolina, USA

If your meals come from the farmers' market here in Matthews, you are considered a locavore. In fact, you are a premium locavore since your food comes from producers located within 50 miles of town rather than the standard 100-mile radius which is the outer limit of a locavore's range. But, let's face it, most of us are distavores. [2020]

Pawcatuck, Connecticut, USA

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." Does that apply to communities which have had to cope with major hurricanes? New England had its hurricane of record in 1938 (before the Weather Service assigned names), and it goosed up the preparedness of the entire region. [2018] 

Charleston, Illinois, USA

Jimmy John's grew up with the millennial generation, which seems to have become the sandwich generation. JJs was founded in a garage on January 13, 1983, and broke away from the competition when it prioritized delivering to the local college market. Today, it shows up on every list of the 'top 10' sandwich shops in the country. [2017]

Bensalem, Pennsylvania, USA

♫ These Are a Few of My Favorite Things ♫ ~ Water Towers: Water towers (and water tanks) work hand-in-hand with the spirit of place. They can make residents feel proud and visitors feel welcome, and also lift your spirits by lifting your gaze above the horizon. In residence here: the patriotic muse, the history muse, and the toponymic muse. [2018]

Woodstown, New Jersey, USA

Hope springs eternal. At least some of these ubiquitous yard signs are clever. Now, let's hope they all disappear. Maybe we should think creatively about non-election yard signs that emphasize unity over division. [2020]

Flint, Michigan, USA

 

Past, present, and future are all part of Flint's marquee. Past: The city must have been founded or incorporated in 1855. Present: The digital screen allows passers-by to keep up with changing events and reminds them of their cell phones. Future: The foreword-thrust script suggests the city is flowing gracefully into a rosy future world yet to come. [2018]

Portland, Maine, USA

May the fourth be with you! You must use the fourth! Happy Star Wars Day. The original Star Wars came out 43 years ago this month. With nothing else to do, you might as well spend the day binge watching all nine episodes. Thanks, Taz. . . The force will be with you always. [2019]

Denver, Colorado, USA

Like Nostradamus (yes, think Russia), we know the outcome of the impeachment and trial (if it happens at all), so all we can do is look forward to the elections next year and hope for a President (and a Congress) we can be proud of again. [2019]

McGregor, Iowa, USA

Compact urban form and walkability: The Barron Block is being refurbished, but the old storefronts are being retained. A building like this was like a contract between the investor and the community. And, like a contract, it was always signed and dated. See the name and date at the top? As if it were the last thing added: just like a contract. [2019]

Portland, Maine, USA

Thirty years ago the Berlin Wall came down: "Forget not the tyranny of this wall - horrid place. Nor the love of freedom that made it fall - "Laid Waste..." After the fall, pieces of the wall found homes in towns and cities around the world. [1992]

Manor, Texas, USA

Said Neil Armstrong as he became the first to walk on the Moon: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Said a certain eight-year-old as she celebrated her ninth birthday on the 50th anniversary of the moon walk: "That's eight short years behind me, and only one more til tween-hood." [2009]

Barlow, Ohio, USA

The setting of the Mill Branch covered bridge is entirely artificial, but at least it has been preserved. In 1990, it was moved to the Barlow Fair Grounds, where it helped Ohio celebrate its bicentennial in 2003. Although it misses the Little Hocking River, it is proud of its promotion to a public relations position. [2016]

Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Looking for a date? You can find one underfoot in downtown Lincoln: 2005. All over America's towns and cities, especially since the new century began, drains have been customized to teach one simple lesson in environmental geography:  No Dumping, Drains to Stream. [2008]