Main Street/Rice County Road 3 in Webster, Minnesota. One of the best known businesses in Webster is the Ranchero Supper Club, near middle in photo, to the left of the white car.
WHENEVER I SNOOP around a small town, I wonder when someone is going to step outside of their home or business and ask why I’m taking pictures. Only once has that happened in my many Main Street visits. That was in Otisco, south of Waseca. When I explained who I was, the local relaxed.
If I lived in one of these rural towns and saw a stranger wandering with a camera, I’d question him/her, too. But that’s me.
My traveling companion, my husband, is used to my curious ways, my quest for interesting photos. He even tips me off occasionally to photo possibilities. Yes, he’s a quick study.
One of the more unusual finds in Webster was this graffiti etched into brick on a downtown building. Names covered several separate sections of wall. I photographed this particular section because of the name Randy (my husband’s name) and “FUZZY,” which was the nickname for one of his sisters. No, they did no etch their names here. Anyone know the story behind all of this downtown graffiti?
Sometimes he probably thinks my photo ideas are crazy. But if he does, my spouse has the good sense not to tell me.
Here are the remainder of the interesting (at least from my perspective) photos I shot in Webster in northern Rice County several weeks ago.
More brick at the Webster Town Hall, a former school, I presume. I love that the old playground equipment has not been removed due to safety concerns. That’s the edge of an old merry-go-round you’re seeing to the left in the frame.
And just how often do you see a pay phone anymore? Well, in Webster you’ll find this one.
Interesting signage atop what I think is a former bank building.
One of Webster’s most interesting businesses: Sight on Survival, “a defensive products and law enforcement gear retail store.”
A snowplow blade awaits winter’s arrival.
To the west of Webster lies one of the most beautiful multi-purpose parks I’ve seen, the Webster Township Park. the park includes this ball diamond, basketball court, horseshoe pits, playground, picnic shelter and grills, nature trail and more.
TO SEE ADDITIONAL images, click here to link to my previous post, “Webster, Minnesota, on a Sunday morning in September.”
Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Each little town has a story to tell and you do have a beautiful “knack” of delving in and discovering those hidden little ‘tid bits’. Once again, thanks for bringing us along on your safari! Hugs, D
Thanks. I actually did spot a lion on a recent safari, albeit not in a small town. More on that later.
Holding my breath!?!
OK, it may not be what you are expecting so, please, do not hold your breath.
OK!-D
I found my sons name “Brice” on the graffiti wall, not a common name and especially not a common spelling. Enjoyed the quaint, lovely small town pictures as usual, I had never heard of Webster so I looked it up, and now I know 🙂
Sweet that you found your son’s name on the wall. I had never been to Webster until this trip and I’ve lived in the area for 30 years.
There’s a pay phone outside my husband’s office and that’s about the only one I know of that still remains. They definitely are a bit of history xx
That’s why I photograph pay phones whenever I see one and I typically find them in small towns.
I like the burgler alarm. Jeffers Minnesota has one on their bank as well. I run into quite a few phones too. There is a cluster of them around Walnut Grove and parts North and a bit East. Most of them are near the road and have the “Phone from Car” sign on them.
I’ve been to and photographed sites in Jeffers and will need to go through my files again and see if I have any of the bank. Those pay phones really do seems to be more common in rural areas. Or do we just notice them because there’s less clutter?