Sometimes there are no words to describe an experience.
I live in a small town, though by West Virginia standards it is a rather reasonable size. Most only know of Princeton as a stop off I-77; our place on the map noted by restaurants, hotels, and a Wal~Mart.
However, at the start of each summer, the community gets together for a street fair. Here you can find craftsmen, fried food, and entertainment, but what truly makes the event is the people. Everywhere you look there are smiles, the sound of laughter, and a buzz of activity as the work week is laid aside in order to celebrate the little town we call home. For one day you feel like you’re a part of this town, tied to the history and the rich culture it represents.
The street that this fair takes place on is the same street my grandmother traversed on her Saturday morning shopping trips. Back then a trolley car ran down the middle of the road instead of a yellow line. Many of the original buildings remain, just new names and wares, but this allows the generation gap to be lessened as stories are shared that usually begin “Back when I was a kid…”
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I have gathered a small selection of photographs from this year’s street fair that I think capture a moment, a feeling, that perhaps explains why this event, this town, is so precious to me. Enjoy.
Coffee Dribble 