Chairs give Linden's town square a welcoming vibe

There's room for everyone and all vehicles around Linden's courthouse square as Tim Loizeaux is finding out, riding his bike to work or just for the exercise.
There's room for everyone and all vehicles around Linden's courthouse square as Tim Loizeaux is finding out, riding his bike to work or just for the exercise.

Linden has the only true square in Cass County.

That is, a four-corner collection of streets and stores around a center, typically aligned in a north, south, east and west setting.

There is not a square, really, in Atlanta, Bloomburg, McLeod, Avinger, Hughes Springs or Queen City.

Marietta tries to have a square with its four-road crossing, but nothing's in the center.

photo

Dan Limke

Crowds enjoy music and dancing during Juanita's First Friday event held May 4.

If you are a newcomer or visitor, these are the eight colossal towns of Cass County. Other contenders from yesteryear are Kildare, Cass, Domino, O'Farrell, Springdale, Huffines, Bivins, Bryans Mill, Red Hill, Cross Roads, Oak Grove, etc.

Linden has another claim to fame. It has the best seating arrangement around its square.

Yes, if one looks and counts there are 10 separate seating spots around the four sides of the courthouse. Enough room for 25 people to sit down and stay a spell.

But no one does this.

The chairs and benches are decorative, reflecting a time when people walked to town, sat for a while-perhaps waiting for the haircut to be given dad or for mom to finish the shopping-and then walked home again.

Still, Linden's chairs are meaningful because they are welcoming. Some chairs and mats before the store doors even say this.

"Stay awhile," the entire town square says, and it is interesting to take a walk around the square, high upon the well-built sidewalk with its safety handrailing.

But of course we don't do this either. When was the last time you sauntered around the four sides of the Linden square? If you try, expect someone to ask if you are lost.

The main thing you'll note is the parking places and whether they are full or empty.

You won't pause long enough to look inside the store window and admire the effort the keeper has made to entice you inside. And if you go inside, you won't stay long enough to talk.

The squares of today's downtown are areas of efficiency. Get something and go. They are not a place to pass the time.

But it's OK to try.

Sit a spell in one of those chairs. Let people gaze at you. Come to one of Linden Main Street's music and dance-on-the-square events.

Speak to everyone. Sit on the grass or embankment of the courthouse and try to remember. It's fun.

One bit of advice: Bring your own chair. Square chairs that look good aren't always comfortable.

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