My Hometown

Misty sunrise in my hometown
Rows of cotton 'bout knee high
Miss Baker down the dirt road still
got clothes out on the line
Erwin Nichols there with Judge Lee
Playin’ checkers at the gin
When I dream about the Southland
this is where it all begins..

Buddy Jewell sings about his hometown and I can almost feel the southern wind and smell the magnolia trees lining a dirt lane. And even though I do not come from the south, his lyrics make me reminisce about my own hometown.

When I took on this article assignment, I realized that I don’t have many pictures of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. How could that even be when I have spent so much time there? It made me sad to realize that such an important place in my life wasn’t going to be passed along to future generations. So, as I write this article, I challenge each of you to scrap your hometown along with me.

History
Every town has a history. When did it begin; who were the original settlers; what was the primary industry? The internet is a terrific resource for this type of information, as well as the local genealogical society, public library and local newspaper office. Many times, you can find photos for purchase that can be included in your own album.

Places
The buildings in our hometowns tell more than the history of the town; they share the history of life. There was an old bridge in Punxsy when I was younger that was painted red, white and blue. It was torn down in the early eighties to make way for a newer, safer bridge. But to me, that bridge will always be the red, white and blue bridge that I passed on the way to my grandmother’s house.

• Note your favorite buildings and any association you might have with them.
• Document landmarks and famous places, before they change again.
• Describe events that happened in buildings.
• Account for any disasters, such as fires or tornados, that effected the buildings.
• Compare past to present, with historical and current photos.
• Take pictures of your home, or houses where you have lived in the past.

People
To me, the best part of my hometown is the people of the town. I moved from a suburban neighborhood of Houston to a small country town, a radical change for a pre-teen. The biggest difference was the way of life, as evidenced by the people. Farmers and miners replaced business people; our closest neighbors were now a half mile away and had practically become family relations; people knew everyone and everyone’s business.

• Journal about the people you remember (teachers, friends, neighbors, relatives).
• Chronicle famous people that have come from your town or area.
• Note the people with whom you keep in touch.
• Describe leaders of the community, and the town “fixtures,” such as a crossing guard that has been there for 15 years.

Lifestyle
The way we live changes with each and every generation. As a daydreamer and history buff, I am always fascinated with how people lived. What was it like to live without electricity? How would my hair have looked in a beehive? Did things happening around the world even reach our tiny piece of Pennsylvania? Why did my parents have to walk uphill in snow to get to school? How is the lifestyle in Punxsy different from other areas?

• Use photos that portray activities and include background.
• Interview older friends and family for their recollections.
• Journal about social life, occupations, political and religious beliefs, belongings and other trends.
• Account for favorite pastimes.

Trivia
Often, there are interesting little tidbits about a town. For example, Indians called the location of the current town, "Ponksaduteney," which meant the "town of the sandflies." The first Groundhog Day was celebrated in 1886. Punxsutawney Phil appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1995. While every town is not fortunate enough to have its own holiday, every town does have fun little facts that can be included in your scrapbook.

• Read the local newspaper, past and present, looking for interesting tidbits.
• Search for your town name on the internet.
• List firsts for the town, such as who owned the first car. Was anything made or invented in your town?
• Document your own family trivia, as it relates to the town.

Whether you are from a large city, or a small town, where you live or have lived deserves a place in your scrapbooks. You may even want to consider a small theme album or circle journal with a friend or relative. However you scrapbook your hometown, enjoy the stroll down memory lane!

Visit the Scrapjazz.com Theme Store for Home Scrapbook supplies and ideas.