Stamford, Nebraska

Stamford - Small Town With A Big Heart

Many towns use that sobriquet but Stamford really personifies it. Got a problem, let someone in town know and there will be food on your doorstep and hands to help fix whatever the problem is.

Stamford has long been known for its supportive atmosphere. My mother was born and raised here. My grandfather's father, his brothers and his father were among the first settlers. I am the last Poppert in a long line that came here in 1877.

Even though there are a few more than 188 people in this town, we accomplish big things. Each fall, at the end of September, the town welcomes 1,500 to 2,000 people for our Pork Day celebration. We have a parade, which often boasts at least 50 to 80 entries. Crafters from all over the area set up shop in one of three buildings. An area band, the Maverick Band, entertains the crowd who come for the free evening barbeque, roast pork sandwiches, chips and tea.

We have an active, and growing, volunteer fire department and EMT squad. Our churches are strong and best of all, we have a growing population of youngsters.

We have our own weekly newspaper, put to bed by a strictly volunteer work force of older ladies. We keep track of each other by reading the news about who has had company or gone on an excursion or is in the hospital. We know what the weekly grocery specials are at the market and whose children won the spelling or geography bees at school or who took honors at science camp. These sorts of things, while seemingly trivial to those from the big city, are the life blood of small towns like ours. We care. We care enough to check on elderly neighbors when we haven't seen them for a couple of days. We care enough to make sure the town's kids have a safe Halloween celebration, one where the children can run from house to house without a parent on each hand. We care enough to set with our friends and talk over problems, share sorrows and joys, provide food and shoulders to cry on when there is a death.

Maybe that should be our town motto. We Care!

Yes, we have our disagreements and cliques, just like any other community of diverse people but when the chips are down, we all pull together. It would be a shame if places like Stamford died out because the rural economy went in the dumper. Pray for us. Pray for all tiny towns strung across the heart of the USA, whatever state they are in.

Diana L

Submitted: Tuesday 23rd March 2004, 12:27 AM

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