“Let’s keep an eye on the courthouse,” these two family straw people seem to be saying by their location.
Do you really need this sign? Well, at least it said,“Please.”
Here’s a good game.How many straw children are there in this picture. Six? Are you sure?
Linden is famous for its twin water towers but it is also noted in recent times for its flower displays on the square. Sometimes as many as 20 flower beds will be in bloom.
One chair, several bales of straw. Just right.
Always glad to see you on the Square
Cass County is, at its heart, a friendly place. One reason is that at its center is the Cass County historic Courthouse and its comfortable lawn and gathering location.
The building and grounds are welcoming and friendly. Sorta like a school building and campus. One wants to go inside. The doors -- one to each side -- are easily opened and accessible. No steps to climb.
The square itself is a great place for walking around. It’s four blocks long, interesting and approachable by wellbuilt sidewalks. The window items and storefronts to see are not spectacular but they are hometown—ish. The owners are warm and easy going.
One can visit a flower shop, a Mexican or Italian Restaurant, barber shop, bank, auto store, city hall, office building, post office, insurance office and several antique shops. Some maybe all, are awfully nice and warm with friendly owners.
It’s the square itself which is interesting. It’s a marvelous place to have a festival or a market or a bump into friends. Most often there are flowers in the beds and chairs and benches in front of stores or on the curb. Ruth Brown gets credit for the flowers. She’s compensated by the city’s Linden Main Street program and is often seen watering.
Linden is not neglected. It is not pretentious, either. The flowers, high quality signage and lamp lighting seem to say “Welcome, come stay awhile.”
Now none of these items are fancy. Neither are they official. They are functional. Linden’s courthouse square is like home, with two over-arching water towers nearby. One of the towers is lighted with colored lights at night. There’s a sense that pleasant and important things go on here.
Take a look a these photos on a recent walk-around. Some straw families have come by for a visit. They’re sleeping out upon the square at night and smiling at you in the daytime. They are entirely appropriate. They, like Linden, are glad to see you.