>> Welcome to rural America, a crossroads of change in a vast land.
In the 19th century, the majority of Americans lived in rural areas.
But, by early in the 20th, growing urban populations meant that economic investments and political
influence were shifting from the counties to the cities.
This video explores a national exhibition about rural life that came to the small northwest
Georgia town of Summerville, where residents added components about their town’s history
and identity.
The local site director and our host is Susan Locklear she’s also Director of Summerville’s
Main Street Program.
SUSAN >> We're at our historic depot and we're here to take a tour of the Crossroads: Change
in Rural America exhibition.
We were very fortunate to be one of the six host cities in the state of Georgia.
We're very thankful to Georgia Humanities and the Smithsonian for allowing us to be
a part of this magnificent journey.
Our community worked very hard for over a year to pull together our local exhibition
and our state-wide and local partners contributed funds and manpower to spruce up our historic
depot, from upgrading floors, to finding local artifacts.
Additionally, the Chattooga County Historical Society helped gather and carefully curate
physical items representing the history of our area.
We were thrilled that more than 50 volunteers stepped forward to make the exhibit happen
and to plan many themed events.
Sadly, after being open just a week, our exhibition was cut short by COVID-19.
That’s why we want to share this video snapshot of our rural communities near and far, remembering
their foundational days, and covering issues we face now, and into the future.
And, of course, most importantly, what binds us rural folks together.
We kick off the exhibition in the downstairs of The Depot by introducing the concept of
tracing change in rural America.
>> Every rural person and place has a story with change being a focal part of that story.
This panel explores how change affected those who grew up in their original communities,
left and returned, or remained and changed along with their communities.
The display may inspire you to think about the changes that have most affected your rural
community or that of someone you love.
SUSAN >> Our exhibition begins on the subject of identity.
What is our identity?
What makes us a rural community?
How are these identities formed?
And how have we adapted as rural communities to change?
>> Identity can be based on where we live, the values we learned growing up, and community
culture.
Rural identity profoundly shaped the character of many Americans as family farms and bustling
Main Streets became icons that still resonate today.
SUSAN >> The next subject of our exhibition is land which, of course, has always been
one of rural America's most valuable assets.
>> For many rural dwellers, land provides a strong sense of place that exerts a powerful,
almost spiritual, hold on them.
For others, it provides sustenance and -- still others want to conserve and protect land at
all costs, which can create conflict.
Think about your favorite rural place and why it appeals to you.
Do you see land’s function as a path for economic independence, or as a critical element
in environmental sustainability?
Is there room for both views?
SUSAN >> Our next section focuses on the development of community life formed around rural crossroads.
>> Such crossroads can be powerful, dynamic places where people exchange ideas, work towards
common goals, and rely on their neighbors to build a future.
The New Deal, and The Country Life Movement helped to reshape rural communities in the
early 1900s and were followed by significant change throughout the century.
What issues do you believe impacted rural communities and still may today?
How do residents create communities to achieved their common goals and help support their
economic and lifestyle choices?
SUSAN >> Rural life has never been easy, but we love where we live and we choose to persist.
Persistence is our next topic.
>> Rural Americans are committed to their communities, while often struggling to either
accept or resolve issues rather than abandoning the places where they live.
Partnerships with special interest groups as well as local, state, and national agencies
and organizations can help those in rural places persist, just as Summerville did when
it partnered with many groups and individuals to bring this exhibition to their town of
just under 5,000 people.
SUSAN >> Change, good or bad, is inevitable.
Managing change in rural America is crucial and the final topic of our exhibition.
>> All Americans will play an important role in reshaping the future of rural America.
Solving challenges will require communication and cooperation between people with different
philosophies, classes and cultural identities.
Consider for yourself how our rural crossroads might support a dialogue that sustains the
place and retains the people.
We’re standing at a new crossroads for rural Georgia.
Where will we go next?