“You need a “Let Go” list just as much as you need a “to-do” list – Let go of the anger, regrets, attachments, and people and situations that drain your energy, disturb your peace, and stand in the way of your happiness.” ~ Unknown
for sale
Today, I think I’ve finally completed my presentation for the upcoming Oral History Association’s annual conference. I’ll be talking about my research on Place, Identity, and Natural Disasters, particularly as it relates to Appalachia. Recall that I used West Liberty as my case study. When I went to the Sorghum Festival last weekend, our walk to Main Street passed by the ruins of Blair Wholesale on Glenn Avenue. This large warehouse was badly damaged by the 2012 twister. It was never repaired, and a few years later, they tore it down, leaving only what you see. It’s been like this for years, and it’s also been for sale for at least two of those years, probably longer. Many other vacant or ruined lots dot the town’s landscape since 2012. According to everyone I’ve talked to, including some with interest in buying a lot in town, the asking prices are simply too high given the area’s low median income and lackluster shopping habits. In other words, nobody can afford what they’re asking because they can never make the money back. Instead of working together as a community, offering tax incentives for start-ups, or finding a creative way to sell and build on the lots, the town is now riddled with ruins and grass plots where a vibrant, active social and commercial hub once stood. Other cities that have suffered natural disasters, with a deeper tax base and progressive leadership, can mostly overcome their emptiness. Most of those cities are outside Appalachia. West Liberty has a lot going against it. Even still, it has done an impressive job of staying alive thanks to the hard work of so many who love the town. I hope new elections will bring an injection of fresh ideas and energy to the work needed to rebuild what’s been lost. Officials and businessmen and businesswomen who will work with everyone, write some grants, think outside the proverbial box, and replace the ruins with some life. We must always hope for a better day for the places and people we love.
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