My children aren’t altogether sure how to answer when people ask them where they’re from. They usually cite Ashland as their hometown because they ride through there on the way to and from our house, they go to school there, and they eat pizza there. (Home is where the pizza is.)
Technically, we have a Hartsburg address, but our house is actually situated somewhere in-between Ashland, Wilton, and Hartsburg. I reckon quite a few other SoBoCo residents have the same quandary as my kids when it comes to identifying their hometown. Or maybe not. What’s the protocol in this situation? If they identify with Ashland, then shouldn’t they call Ashland home despite their address? Would that be an affront to Hartsburg? Shouldn’t we consider Wilton’s feelings, too?
I don’t have the answers to these questions because I’m not originally from this area. But does that fact make Ashland/Hartsburg/Wilton any less my Home? Am I not a full-fledged, card carrying member of the SoBoCo community just because I’m not indigenous? No, I wasn’t born or raised in Southern Boone County. Instead, I moved to this area—on purpose. My wife and I chose to live here, raise a family here, and grow old here. Ever since I saw the movie Doc Hollywood, starring Michael J. Fox, I wanted to move to a small town full of friendly folks and quirky characters who would accept me, an egocentric outsider, as one of their own. Ashland is that town. Since 1999, we have called the greater Ashland metropolitan area Home. And we’ve never regretted it for a second.
When Bethany and I first moved here we felt slightly removed from the community, and rightly so. We didn’t know a soul. But no one “from here” ever made us feel like we weren’t really “Ashland people.” No one treated us like outsiders. People were always friendly and quick to return a wave. I think our new area neighbors were just giving us our space, which we appreciated. As our kids entered school, we became much more in touch with the fine folks of Southern Boone County. We made lots of friends and realized just how kind, generous, and accepting the people around here truly are.
Technically, we have a Hartsburg address, but our house is actually situated somewhere in-between Ashland, Wilton, and Hartsburg. I reckon quite a few other SoBoCo residents have the same quandary as my kids when it comes to identifying their hometown. Or maybe not. What’s the protocol in this situation? If they identify with Ashland, then shouldn’t they call Ashland home despite their address? Would that be an affront to Hartsburg? Shouldn’t we consider Wilton’s feelings, too?
I don’t have the answers to these questions because I’m not originally from this area. But does that fact make Ashland/Hartsburg/Wilton any less my Home? Am I not a full-fledged, card carrying member of the SoBoCo community just because I’m not indigenous? No, I wasn’t born or raised in Southern Boone County. Instead, I moved to this area—on purpose. My wife and I chose to live here, raise a family here, and grow old here. Ever since I saw the movie Doc Hollywood, starring Michael J. Fox, I wanted to move to a small town full of friendly folks and quirky characters who would accept me, an egocentric outsider, as one of their own. Ashland is that town. Since 1999, we have called the greater Ashland metropolitan area Home. And we’ve never regretted it for a second.
When Bethany and I first moved here we felt slightly removed from the community, and rightly so. We didn’t know a soul. But no one “from here” ever made us feel like we weren’t really “Ashland people.” No one treated us like outsiders. People were always friendly and quick to return a wave. I think our new area neighbors were just giving us our space, which we appreciated. As our kids entered school, we became much more in touch with the fine folks of Southern Boone County. We made lots of friends and realized just how kind, generous, and accepting the people around here truly are.
Something has been troubling me lately, however. In the aftermath of the recent school board scandal, I overheard some grumblings that suggested the problems were because of people living around here who weren’t really “Ashland people.” While I won’t weigh in on the facts/rumors flying around in the post-Deffenbaugh Letter era, I think equating non-natives with problems in our community is a dangerous precedent to set.
SoBoCo is a microcosm of America. It is a melting pot. With the possible exception of any Ashland-area Native Americans who may still be living here, the overwhelming majority of area families migrated here from somewhere else. People with a dream of making a better life for their children and for themselves continue to be welcomed to our community year after year. Folks from all walks of life are making our small town a diverse and enlightened one. While uninhibited growth can present problems, Ashland is one of the few towns in Missouri (and possibly the nation) that continues to build new homes, businesses, schools, libraries, and infrastructure despite the national economic downturn, while still maintaining its down-home, farming-community feel.
The reason for Ashland’s success: the people. Farmers and entrepreneurs. Young and old. Black, White, Asian, and Hispanic. Life-long residents and recent transplants. We are all “Ashland people” and I am proud to call Ashland/Hartsburg/Wilton my hometown(s).
SoBoCo is a microcosm of America. It is a melting pot. With the possible exception of any Ashland-area Native Americans who may still be living here, the overwhelming majority of area families migrated here from somewhere else. People with a dream of making a better life for their children and for themselves continue to be welcomed to our community year after year. Folks from all walks of life are making our small town a diverse and enlightened one. While uninhibited growth can present problems, Ashland is one of the few towns in Missouri (and possibly the nation) that continues to build new homes, businesses, schools, libraries, and infrastructure despite the national economic downturn, while still maintaining its down-home, farming-community feel.
The reason for Ashland’s success: the people. Farmers and entrepreneurs. Young and old. Black, White, Asian, and Hispanic. Life-long residents and recent transplants. We are all “Ashland people” and I am proud to call Ashland/Hartsburg/Wilton my hometown(s).
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