I can't help but observe that while there are a few locals who couldn't care less about their town's history, many are starting to enjoy learning more about the past. I have always been one to stop in small towns during my travels and buy the books that local authors took the time to research the town and it's people and record that information for others to read about. My local/small town book collection spans from Colorado to Virginia and from Texas down to Florida. So, naturally my interest peaked when I moved to Bullock County 21 years ago. Finding someone to actually "teach" me about the towns history was not easy until I met Joyce Perrin. She's not even from this town and has only been a resident for a mere 12 years, yet she has a lifetime of knowledge she shares with EVERY out-of-towner. If you didn't know better, you'd think she was born here. Why does she care? Because she comes from a small town in North Alabama, but more so, she and her husband are both Veterans who have done their share of travel. To them, a small town has something no big city can possess and that is "Small Town Pride". Joyce believes in the value of a community working together and creating something for all to enjoy, be it retail, museums, theater, tours, and events. Union Springs has so much potential to grow... not too much, but enough to create jobs, a tourist destination, and perhaps a beautiful place to retire in one of the town's picturesque homes.
More than once, I have stopped by the Josephine and couldn't help observing Joyce standing beside a group of out-of-towners or tourists as they are eating the delicious lunch that she and Allen had prepared for them. They're all hanging on her every word and appear to be engrossed as she describes her beloved old building to them and tells them of the plans she has for it. I move about pretending to be reading one of the many historical articles on the wall as she goes on to talk about the town and it's history. This group begins to pepper her with questions as they are intrigued and want to know more. Joyce goes on with describing the two railroad depots that use to stop in Union Springs. Then continues with talk about the cotton industry and it's importance to the town and how the wagons would be full with a load of cotton as they trailed up and down the main street. Her pride swells as she describes how folks who stayed at the Josephine Hotel in those days would sit out on the second floor balcony and watch those cotton wagons roll by with great fascination.
There are but a small hand of people like this. People who want the very best for the small town and its people. Joyce is but a rare find and her enthusiasm for this town is a bit contagious. I've been bitten by the history bug a long time ago and I consider it a privilege to learn more about the Josephine, Union Springs, and Bullock County. Joyce Perrin is someone I've come to know and respect because of perseverance, strength, and standing for what she believes in. She is determined to make the Josephine Art Complex a MUST SEE destination as well as the entire city of Union Springs.
Knowing your past is the secret to knowing the direction of your future. You can learn what worked and what didn't from the past and apply that to the future. People have to learn to work together better. Work for the common good. Put differences aside like, politics, religion, race, social issues, as well as power and control. What will be the best for all of us? How can we get there together? I think we can. I know we can. We just have to do it.
Folks... support your local businesses. They are your neighbors, church members, friends, and even someone you might can count on. This is where we have to start if we are going to save our small towns. We've got to stick together.
And yes... Josephine herself would be proud.
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