RD201907-08

(avery) #1
The
PLACES NICESTin
AMERICA
2019

building to make a safe house for
young women, and they are closing
on a bigger property so they can help
more people. “A lot of towns might
push away from what we’re doing,”
says Kathrine. “But here everyone has
been amazingly supportive.”
In fact, when Michael pulled up
in a U-Haul with a houseful of furni-
ture donated by a local store, he got
more than just a warm welcome. “The
house we bought is right off the town
square,” says Kathrine, “and he’s try-
ing to figure out how he’s going to un-
load it all. The next thing you know,
all the men from the bank
walked over and asked, ‘Do
you need some help?’ And
in their suits and ties, they
unloaded the furniture. It
really is the definition of
community here.”
When Shannon looks to
the future, she has a vision
for her adopted hometown.
“I would love for Mount
Vernon to have a square full
of cars because all the busi-
nesses are open and people
are hustling and bustling,”
she says. “In my generation,
kids would graduate high


school and then leave because there
were no jobs and no entertainment
or culture. I would like for these kids
that are approaching adulthood now
to not leave. Especially mine.”
These days, there’s a lot going on,
says Main Street Alliance manager
Carolyn Teague. A new café is open-
ing on the square. A film crew made
a movie featuring hometown legend
Don Meredith, a quarterback for the
Dallas Cowboys in the 1960s. Down the
road, the Lowe’s distribution center is
hiring. Sales tax revenue for the down-
town has increased more than 275 per-
cent in the past four years.
Now, Amy Briscoe says,
“our downtown is the per-
fect balance of quaint
small-town charm with a
progressive something-is-
about-to-happen vibe”—
just as Shannon and others
had envisioned.
“Trevor said to me, ‘Mom,
I wish we had moved here
when I was younger,’” says
Shannon. “And I was like,
‘You know what? You’re
right, buddy. I wish we
would’ve moved here ear-
lier too.’”

National Interest

America is filled
with amazing
communities.
You’ll find 50 of
the best in our
Nicest Places in
America con-
test. Vote for
your favorite at
rd.com/nicest.

He Who Hesitates ...
I like to think the guy who invented the umbrella was going
to call it the “brella,” but he hesitated.
andy field, comic

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