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Ruth Abram: The Fall And Rise Of Rural America

Alarmed by a study documenting the demise of America’s small rural towns, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack called for “a national commitment to create new opportunities . . . [to] keep folks in our small towns and re-ignite economic growth across the nation.”

In fact, these new opportunities are here. Today’s rural life is being energized by folks across generations, both deep-rooted and newcomers.  No matter the age, they report being drawn by the hope of building community with others who appreciate the value of simple things and living at a pace defined by nature’s calendar.

The town of New Lebanon, New York, is a case in point. It’s “a little town that could.” Just like the engine in the beloved children’s story, no one thought it could make it up the mountain. No one but the little engine itself.

New Lebanon was once the center of the world. From the 1800s through the turn of the century, mention New Lebanon and people knew exactly what you were talking about. They’d say:

  • “Oh, it’s where the Shakers established their headquarters and the Tildens opened the nation’s first pharmaceutical factory.” or
  • “That town with the first free library.” And
  • “The Southerners’ favorite spa... the place with natural healing waters and medicinal herbs.” Or
  • “The Salvation Army’s choice for outdoor revival meetings.”

Yes, they all knew about New Lebanon.
What happened to topple New Lebanon from its height?

Perhaps the end of the Great Awakening stemmed the evangelical fervor.  Or, the competition from other spa towns – like Saratoga, which added horse racing. Or the absence of the throngs of white Southerners, whose finances collapsed after the Civil War, preventing them from summering in New Lebanon.

Then too, all three of the local railroad stations closed, signaling the end of an era.

Whatever the reasons, New Lebanon began a downward turn that today is evidenced by shuttered stores, including its only grocery store. Its young people moved away to find employment. Property values fell.

But recently, something happened. Citizens – young and old, long-time and new – started to believe they could reverse the decline by taking their cues from the Shakers, the Tildens, and others who had built their success on the resources at hand.

Today, chief among those resources is the ingenuity and skills of the residents themselves. The auto mechanic, auctioneer, florist, jam maker, hops grower, sausage maker, organic farmers, herbalists, body workers, healers, environmentalists, historic preservationists; theatrical designers, animal trackers, breeders and trainers; crafts people, auto racers, artists; ...and, many more... have joined together to demonstrate their skills and philosophy to visitors.

Young people are returning, some to take over a family business, others to make a commitment to country life. Most are college graduates ...who have studied technology and the business skills required to run any enterprise, including a rural one. Retirees are arriving, eager to realize long-held dreams for second careers.

This generation of rural Americans understands that our small towns are important, that the work they do to preserve and sustain these communities is essential. They are committed to old ideas refitted for our times such as recycling and waste reduction... eating healthy and delicious meals; creating and enjoying music, art, and community. They are environmental champions, aware and appreciative of the beauty and necessity of the natural world.

That abandoned railroad? It’s well on its way to becoming a rail trail. The dilapidated buildings on Main Street? Under restoration.

Secretary Vilsack would be proud of this example of the reclamation of a rural American town ...whose residents and town leaders are standing up and saying, “We are not people who’ve been left behind. To the contrary, we have chosen this town and the lifestyle it offers us. We believe it and we have something to teach others.”

And ... they are right.

Ruth J. Abram is founder and president of BEHOLD! New Lebanon, the living museum of contemporary rural American life. A historian and social activist, Abram was also the founder of the Lower East Side Tenement Museum in Manhattan, the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, and the National Women’s Agenda and Coalition. She is a resident of Columbia County, New York.

The views expressed by commentators are solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the views of this station or its management.

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