New Year, New Inspiration for Creativity - most especially for writing!
Last year I started a blog series called Off the Beaten Path: Small Town Destinations because I love the history, beauty, and personal feel of small towns. They inspire me with the easiness of getting around, the incredible homes, the great mom and pop businesses, and the people I meet. As a writer, I like to take in the special nuances of small-town settings. I picture romances developing, or suspense that could possibly happen at the parks, post offices, restaurants, offices, and so much more. Communities of this size are generally tight-knit and the friendships between the residents are amazing, thus women's fiction stories come to mind. I chose New Knoxville as my first small town destination for 2026.
New Knoxville is a village located in Auglaize County, deep-rooted in German heritage. Established in 1836, the town begins at the intersection of State Routes 29 and 219. On the edge of the village is Neil Armstrong Airport, honoring Neil for being the first man to walk on the moon.
Like many villages, their school and churches are the heart of everything. Branching out from there are incredible businesses that employ the locals and some folks from the surrounding area.
I stopped at Main Street Station for a late lunch of an Italian sub. Talk about tasty! My mouth is watering just remembering it. On the walls of the restaurant were pictures of how the business has changed over the many years. In the 60's it was a Tastee-Freeze, as shown below.
As I made my way through the village, I found this gem. Most municipalities have done away with phone booths. I'm glad New Knoxville has kept theirs as a blast from the past. (And yes, I'm old enough to have actually made calls from one of these cool booths) This great-find alone made my trip here worth it. I now have a romantic story in mind that could include both the restaurant and the phone booth. 💗
Don't get me wrong, big cities are great too for so many reasons, but as I grow older, I'm drawn to smaller ones because they have a lot to offer, both personally and creatively.
I look forward to many small-town destinations this year and I'll share each one with you.
Until my next adventure, take good care.
Love,
Jan
#SmallTownDestinations #creativity #OffTheBeatenPath #writing
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