Saving Salem

I was browsing Facebook last night when I came across a post in the “Salem MO Neighbor to Neighbor” group that piqued my interest.

It was quite informative to read the responses, and it got me thinking, how can we “save” Salem?

Except for the six years I spent in St. Louis attending pharmacy school (where I met my beautiful wife), I have lived in Dent County, Missouri, my entire life. It is my home, and like any good homeowner would want, I have always desired to help this town prosper. It certainly isn’t a simple task. Salem has some wonderful things going for it, but it also has more than its share of problems.

During my time in St. Louis, I came to long for the quiet of a grassy Ozark hill on a cool fall day. I missed the leaves of nearby oaks dancing around me in the breeze, and the smell as the sun’s retreat toward the southern horizon ushered in the harvest season. While walking along in the unyielding heat of the St. Louisan streets, I yearned for the refreshing flow from Welch Spring to rescue me from that humid hell. When people on my street reported me for grass an inch too tall, I wanted nothing more than to be back at home where my bovine neighbors would only complain when the grass got too short. Living in the city gifted me with a newfound appreciation for the peace and serenity of our area.

But, it also highlighted to me some of our greatest problems. Moving around St. Louis was easy. There was public transportation, sidewalks everywhere, SAFE bike paths, and beautiful architecture. There were things to see and do around every corner. Wonderful places to eat and drink. Places for history, art, and learning. And, perhaps most importantly, there were signs of growth. The central corridor of St. Louis has been revitalizing and rebuilding for years now, and it is truly exciting to see.

Salem is not St. Louis, and it never will be. Nor would we want it to be. But I think it is important to consider the fundamental differences between cities like Salem and St. Louis. In Salem, we have seen no substantial population growth for years. There have been no major changes in industry or the largest employers. There are virtually no post-secondary educational opportunities here, and high paying jobs are few and far between. Outside of the medical field, US Foodservice, and Doe Run, there are very few opportunities unless you have been blessed with a hand me down of few hundred acres of pasture to raise cattle on. Salem itself has neglected its historic buildings and has made the automobile the only form of transportation possible. There is virtually no way to make a trip to anywhere in Salem without a car. Sidewalks are minimal, bike paths are non-existent, and businesses are not pedestrian oriented.

Think about our downtown. Fourth street has about 7 feet of sidewalk on each side for pedestrian space, separated by FORTY-FIVE feet of asphalt. What makes an area like the Central West End in St. Louis or downtown Gatlinburg wonderful places to walk around, shop, eat, and drink? They are geared towards pedestrians. Wide sidewalks lined with trees and signaled crosswalks provide a cool and pleasant path to meander. Our downtown, except for around the courthouse, is devoid of vegetation. The 7 feet of sidewalks are the bare minimum to serve as a walkway, and provide no room for walk-up storefronts, sidewalk cafes, or food trucks. The vehicles roaring down the street at 30 mph in two directions makes pedestrians feel unwelcome. Because of this, no business is ever very successful in our downtown.

However, probably the biggest reason we often have difficulty with economic growth in Salem is that we don’t capitalize on our assets. We don’t have a highly educated or skilled workforce here. That is not an insult, it is just a fact, and because of that, thinking that the answer to our prayers is a new factory or some corporate headquarters is just flat out wrong. We have nothing here that businesses like that really want or need. We don’t even have a good connection to the interstate. But without some form of wealth creation (production), we will continue to stagnate. So what can we do?

We need to focus on our strengths. Salem is in a beautiful part of the Missouri Ozarks. We are the gateway to the Current River and Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR). We have an abundance of good timber, pastureland, and vineyard hills. These are things that even St. Louis does not have. These are the things that will draw businesses and customers. We must let go of the myth that manufacturing will save us. It will not. Until we completely embrace our new identity as a tourist destination, Salem will continue to suffer economically. We need to bring in more tourists, give them more things to do and to spend money on, and keep them here longer. The Current River is a national park! Why don’t we better capitalize on that?

Salem has so much potential, but first we must come to terms with the reality of what we are. We are abysmally poor, without good transportation, education, or other infrastructure. We will never compete with St. Louis or even Rolla for manufacturing or office jobs. Our economy will be driven by our natural resources; our timber, farmland, and tourist attractions. We can’t do what is comfortable for us, we must become a town of hospitality, welcoming in others who want to share in the majesty of our slice of the Ozarks. Only then can we begin to save Salem.

Do you have thoughts on how we can improve our town?

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