“The universal similarity — that is the expression of the philosophy of a dull safety,” Sinclair Lewis wrote a century ago in “Main Street,” focusing on ethnic racism and cultural divides in an early 1900s everytown of the Midwest, Gopher Prairie.
One of the town’s doctor’s new bride, Carol, was swept from her feet when she visited Minneapolis and then was appalled and disgusted by the commonality of her new town’s Main Street.
We’re fortunate in Iola that owners of downtown buildings have brought back some of the colorful Victorian splendor of their store fronts. But, it’s not a one-time affair and we must ever be vigilant that appearances don’t digress, with vibrancy also a watchword.
We’ve a bit of a cancer afflicting the downtown in vacant stores, with barren windows an all too noticeable blemish.
First, let’s look at some of the pluses. We’ve three restaurants, offering Mexican food, a fine selection of sandwiches and drinks and a coffee shop that gives a hint of European flair. We’ve furniture, clothing and jewelry and offices to provide personal services. Antiques and second-hand goods fill four stores. Museums tell the story of Iola, Allen County and favorite son Gen. Frederick Funston.
What we don’t have is a centerpiece to make Iola a destination such as in Hamilton, Mo., where Missouri Star Quilt Company — plus several supportive shops and specialty restaurants — has created a destination for literally busloads of people to come to shop, even from foreign lands.
So, what can we do to make Iola’s downtown the scene of feverish commercial activity?
The easy answer is we can’t. That the day of shops and stores all around the square and branching onto side streets is a thing of the past, never to rear its head again. Walmart and the mobility of shoppers have created erosion that’s too rampant.
We can trumpet about friends and neighbors who meet and greet at each store — personal service — having what we want at hand and the advantage of helping hometown taxpayers. The stark reality the pragmatist would growl, “Forget it.”
Let’s not give up. Rather, we should find a magnet, such as Hamilton’s.
A good one might be Fearless Fred himself. Funston was a most remarkable man, military hero, explorer and writer. We could advertise far and wide that this is his home — just as Humboldt can claim Walter Johnson, although his birthplace is between the two towns.
To take advantage of Funston, we could have a celebration — to replace the Buster Keaton gig when it expires in 2017 — to tell about Funston’s time in Alaska, Death Valley, Cuba, the Philippines and his harrowing capture of the rebel leader, Emilio Aguinaldo, and his adventures chasing after Poncho Villa, with Eisenhower, Patton, McArthur and Pershing officers under his command. Even about the supposition he might have been president had a heart attack not intervened.
We could have an elaborate ceremony to rename Madison Avenue as Funston Boulevard — after all, who today cares about Madison.
Clerks and store owners occasionally could dress in period clothing. Duane McGraw would look nifty with garters to hold up long shirt sleeves.
The possibilities are endless — it’d be fun, set Iola apart and just might make downtown the bustling center of commerce it was decades ago.
