On fountains, festivals, and the little things that make a small town feel like home
Pomeroy is a little town with a lot of heart.
If you drive through, you might notice the brick buildings, the Ohio River, the familiar streets, and the small-town quiet. But stay a little longer and you’ll see what I love about this place: people showing up for one another, local businesses keeping their doors open, and neighbors finding reasons to gather.
Lately, there’s been plenty of conversation about downtown—the grant, the new fountains, the construction, and the parking. Those conversations matter. Parking matters, especially when you’re trying to stop in, shop, grab something to eat, or get where you need to go. Construction can be frustrating for residents and hard on the businesses trying to make it through. People are allowed to have questions and opinions about what Pomeroy needs.
But I also think we can hold two things true at once: it’s fair to talk about what could work better, and it’s okay to be excited about what’s beautiful.
Pomeroy received an $8.37 million grant through Ohio’s waterfront initiative for downtown and riverfront improvements. The project includes gathering spaces, updated sidewalks and lighting, safer places for people to walk, and fountains. The village has also shared updates about paving, parking, and access as work moves along. It’s a big investment in a small town, and it gives us a chance to imagine what downtown can feel like when the pieces come together. (wvnews.com, villagepomeroy.us, villagepomeroy.us)
The fountains are part of that feeling. They give people a reason to pause for a minute, take a picture, meet a friend, or bring the kids downtown. They make an ordinary walk feel a little more special. They’re not going to solve every problem a town has, and they don’t have to. Sometimes a beautiful public space can simply remind us that our town is worth caring for.
And Pomeroy knows how to bring people together. This past weekend, the Sternwheel Regatta filled downtown with music, a fire truck parade, a chili cook-off, family activities, and all the little moments that make a local festival feel like a local festival. You can hear the music, run into someone you know, try something from a food stand, and let the kids enjoy the day. It’s a whole town making an occasion out of being together. (wvnews.com)
That kind of event doesn’t happen by itself. It takes organizers, volunteers, local sponsors, performers, vendors, village workers, and residents willing to come out and support it. It takes people who believe Pomeroy deserves good things—not just someday, but right now.
Small towns can be easy to criticize from the outside. We hear what’s missing, what needs fixed, what could be better. And sure, there is always something that could be better. That’s true anywhere. But I don’t want the list of problems to be the only story we tell about Pomeroy.
I want to talk about the people who keep showing up. The shop owners who welcome you in. The volunteers who help put on another event. The musicians who play for the crowd. The neighbors who take their kids to see the fountains, stop for a bite, and make an evening of it. The people who care enough to speak up because they want their town to work well for everyone.
That’s what building a town looks like. It isn’t just a grant, a construction project, or a fountain. It’s the everyday choice to shop local when you can, attend a community event, invite someone to come visit, and see the good that’s already here while still asking how to make things better.
Pomeroy is quaint. It’s close to the river, rich with history, and full of the kind of familiar corners that make you feel like you belong. It may be small, but it doesn’t have to be overlooked. There’s room here for new gathering places and old traditions, for honest conversations about parking and excitement about what’s coming, for a little constructive criticism and a whole lot of hometown pride.
I’m trying to build Pomeroy up because I believe it’s worth building up. I want people to visit, take a walk, enjoy the fountains, explore downtown, and come back for the next event. I want us to notice what’s good here and help it grow.
So yes, let’s keep talking about what Pomeroy needs. Let’s make sure the town remains accessible and that local businesses are supported through construction and change. And let’s also celebrate the fact that we have a riverfront, music, festivals, new public spaces, and people who care enough to keep making things happen.
We’re lucky to have a town that gives us reasons to gather. Pomeroy may be small, but it has plenty of heart—and that’s something worth showing off.
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