it’s 12 o’clock somewhere – like Madison, IN

Dec 28, 2010

Snapped from the window of a car on a Christmas drive, the photo above proves that time passes slowly in Madison, Indiana. It was 12 o’clock when I passed on the way back home too! I assume the reason the clock is stuck on 12:00 has something to do with the fire that destroyed the signature copula in 2009. But, the whole “time stands still” thing isn’t the only reason Madison is cool.

For example, in Madison, Indiana at Christmastime, the tops of all downtown buildings on Main Street are lit in the same manner on both sides of the street. When businesses have names like ‘The Floating Cow’ — you sort of expect different, but Madison, even in a challenging economy, seems to deliver more…and more.

Picture your family clamoring into a horse-drawn carriage for a ride through the historic business district (insert ‘singing Jingle Bells’ here) — for FREE — while you enjoy their Art & Shop Hop, Christmas edition. I didn’t make their ‘Nights Before Christmas‘ this year, but I have in the past. The candlelit Christmas tour of public sites and historic private homes adorned with festive decorations is sure not to disappoint — especially if you end your tour with a visit to Lanthier Winery’s ‘Festival of Trees’. Did I mention you can sample wine for free?

So how exactly did Madison, Indiana rate as the #4 pick of the top 100 towns to visit by Midwest Living magazine? The towering limestone bluffs and old riverboat port …in addition to buildings dating back to 1817 were a factor, that’s for sure. But I think the real reason is because Madison was focused on the big picture (and remain so) at a time when most smaller towns were focusing on minor day-to-day things (and remain so).

Madison, Indiana now serves as a model for preservation of other towns. The problem is, so many towns now simply try to copy what worked there. Imitating originality doesn’t make you distinct. Still, I remember when Santa came to Crothersville, and when we lit a tree downtown, and when a little girl didn’t have to be murdered for townsfolk to come together as a community. I don’t understand why some towns have an abundance of people who care enough to consistently support their businesses and growth — and other towns become stagnant and have an abundance of apathetic residents who basically don’t give a damn.

If you have the answer to that one, please share.