Are the small towns of America doomed? Is the good old American Can Do attitude dead or dying? Are rural communities a thing of the past? I think not. Like most things in life you must fight to get things done that you feel should be done. For an example allow me to use my home town Milroy, Indiana. We are small, guess around 600 to 700 people. We are surrounded by farm land and woodlands. We do have some industry and that has been one of the big helps that we have done. We have enthusiastic individuals who love their community and are willing to go out and do something for it.

What has been done? How was it done? Well, let us take a short look at what is going on in town now. Several years ago there was a fatal fire on Main Street. The structure was gutted and not at all pleasing to look at. And even worse it was downtown, right in the middle of it in fact. The investigation into the cause and for insurance purposes went on for quite a long time. Then the owner did not have enough money to tear down the building. What to do? The Milroy Economic Development Corporation got involved and went right to work. First off CGS trash people offered and eventually provided several dumpsters and their landfill to dump the trash. Then the MEDC went out and found some one who would clean up the area and rehab it to be used as a business. Today it is cleaned up, looks nice and a new business has come to town.

We found out the state had decided to redo downtown 244 which also is Milroy’s Main Street. They wanted to do much same as was done in Rushville some years ago. A group of farsighted individuals decided that would be a wonderful time to put up new lights on Main Street while it is torn up. They decided to raise $100,000, buy the lights, put them up, and keep up them maintained as well as pay the electric bill. Thinking about it – quite a huge undertaking. But guess what? They did it. The money is almost raised, the lights are in and should be turned on by now, and frankly it looks wonderful. The excess funds were deposited in an account with the Community Foundation. The money earned by that fund will pay for the electric and other things that may be needed to keep the lights in good shape. The community, the state, business people and many others working together got something done that in my mind was close to a miracle.

Recently, about the first of the year, a local business, Dutch Mill Restaurant burnt to the ground. Between the owners, the community and many others the Dutch Mill is being rebuilt and I understand hope to be open by Thanksgiving. Yet another sign of local help, concern and desire of a small rural community.

Years ago there was a rash of accidents on 3 in Anderson Township. The local Trustee and fire department decided that an ambulance should be based in Milroy. They approached the state and county officials with their idea. Both the state and county were for it but we had to ask for a grant to buy the ambulance. After three attempts, and finally getting things lined up the way the state wanted, Milroy received its own ambulance. One hundred forty-four locals volunteered their time, took the EMT course and today Milroy has an advanced life support ambulance as well as the volunteer fire department.

The fire department has over the years helped the township purchase or refurbish several pieces of equipment. I believe the chief told me they had around 22 active members now (and) around six or more pieces of equipment. They train long and hard and work with the ambulance on accidents and fires. Yet another sign of rural growth.

Several years ago the MEDC accidentally was involved with the state with a large automotive supplier firm who was looking for a site to build a new plant. They would hire 400 people and produce auto parts. Milroy just happened to be between New Castle and Brookville, both of which were on the state agenda so the search team had time to stop and look at Milroy. The MEDC went into high gear and the end result was Milroy was in the final three for the plant. New Castle and Richmond were the others. The company decided not to build when they were purchased by another firm but by golly Milroy was in the top three for the plant and we did learn a lot about how to go about landing such a plant.

Dr. Worth decided some 40 years ago Milroy needed water and sewer. He and a few others got going and got grants and public support and we got and still have water and sewer. And this is a must today for economic development. People and their ideas, desires and abilities that is what has made Milroy the aggressive and community it is today.

Our elementary school is almost a 100 years old. The county system needed overhaul. Milroy was one of the communities of the county that took the task of getting new schools for the county. After a lot of time, effort, work travel and talking, the referendum for the school building program was passed with a 68 percent approval for that plan. Milroy and Arlington get new schools, Mays gets a face lift and air conditioning and RES gets four new classrooms. They are in the process of building that school now.

These and other projects over the years have shown Milroy that yes, there are many things that we as a community can do to live and thrive even in the atmosphere of today. So are rural communities dead? Only if they allow themselves to be. Just look at what a small, rural southern Rush County community has done and is doing and take heart rural America and its values and faith are still here and hopefully will be forever.      

Yes, you and your small community can do the same and better than we have. All you need is the desire, the people and especially the leadership that we are fortunate to have. So quit lamenting the premature demise of the small town and remember change is going to happen so learn to adapt to it and thrive with it as a community rather than just an individual. I would love to see all the other small communities of Rush County to thrive and grow too. So Arlington, Mays, Raleigh, Glenwood, Manilla, New Salem, Homer, Gowdy, Moscow, Carthage all have the same opportunity as Milroy; they just need to get out there and start working.