Growing up in a small town in the 40s and 50s was very different than growing up in an urban area in the same time period. I'm not sure what the popultion was back then but high school classes in the upper 40s to 50 plus were large classes!
Our small town had 3 grocery stores, a dairy, 2 drugstores, a grain elevator, furniture store, 3 car dealerships, a lumber yard, dry cleaners, a libary,2 dry goods stores, a ladies' dress shop, an appliance store, Ben Franklin (5 and dime), 2 farm machinery dealers, 2 hotels, a local weekly newspaper, several service stations, a doctor or two, a full complement of attorneys, about 6 protestant churchs, a Catholic Church, a couple cafes, a beer joint or two, a poolhall, and the County Courthouse. We had a movie theater, and later, a drive-in theater. A branch of the Santa Fe Railroad went through town. There were wedding dances and dances at the American Legion Hall. A swimming pool was built about 1952.
The larger towns were about 50-60 miles north and south of Ness. The nearest small city was about 125 miles away. We probably went to one of the nearer towns once a month. Then we drove the 125 miles to the small city about once every three or four months. We didn't do as much traveling to distant places back then. We could go by car, bus, or train.
It always amazes me when people here (and now) complain about having nothing to do. There are so many interesting things to do and places to go. There is always something to do in a large city.
I had never seen a black person until I went away to college in 1953. I believe many of the towns had "blue laws" that stated a black person had to leave town before sundown. It was a different time back then. Many people were prejudiced against people who were "different" - i.e. color, belief, etc.
Joe Louis, a black man, was the heavy weight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. As I recall, my family was for his opponent. I was always for the underdog so, while I said nothing, I quietly rooted for Joe Louis.
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