Recently, my dad and I visited a friend of his, Mr. Harold Carleton, someone who has lived in my hometown of Union, Mississippi for a long while now—-over ninety years. He talked to us about his memories of growing up in Union, and listening to these recollections made me think about what Union means to both him and me—-how a town like Union can be home to different people across generations.
The town Carleton grew up in was very different from the one I know now; I find that fascinating to think about—-how Harold Carleton remembers a Union that I can never truly know like he did. Carleton talked about how he remembered when the town had booming businesses, recalling old hotels, theaters, train stops, and even car dealerships.
Carleton recounted how in his younger years, he would catch a ride on the “doodlebug”—-a train with a regular schedule to Jackson—-to go to the state fair. He said that he and his friends would lose entire nights of sleep just to be able to catch the train to Jackson to enjoy the fair—-only to get right to work as soon as he came home. I wonder if I would do that. I don’t know that I would, really, but there’s still a part of me that’s thrilled by the idea, by how it sounds like such an adventure. That’s the thing about the Union of the past Carleton talked about—-it’s quite interesting to me, but I can’t quite imagine what it would be like to grow up there, to really call it my home.
I do think, though, that hearing Carleton talk allowed me to catch a glimpse of the Union of the past, to look backwards and see beyond the Union from 2006 to the present. I caught a glimpse of what was home for countless people. I could also tell that the community of Union meant a lot to him; at various points in the conversation, he would bring up to my dad fond acquaintances of theirs to ask or talk about. I really think hearing him talk about a place he feels so fond of gave me a new appreciation for Union as it is now.
Even though I wasn’t there to see what Union was like with booming commerce, I’m so glad to have been able to grow up in what Union is now. Almost every day I take our dog out for a walk in a field outside our house, and while I walk, I can look over and see a local gas station at a four-way stop. I guess it’s a pretty ordinary landmark, but it’s those kinds of things that to me are landmarks of home. I’ve grown up with local business, wonderful public libraries, parks, and schools, and a great community. If there’s less commerce in Union now, there’s still plenty of community in the town.
I suppose the point to all of this is to say that places, especially small towns like Union, can be homes to people across time. I’m glad I was able to reflect on what my hometown means to me in this article. Perhaps it will inspire you to consider what your own hometown means to you; I think it’s a wonderful question to ponder.
