A farm site just minutes east of Utica in southeastern Minnesota.
YOU NEVER KNOW what oddities will surprise you in a small town, which is precisely why I delight in exploring rural communities.
Utica, a town of about 300 located along U.S. Highway 14 between Rochester and Winona, definitely presented some attractions worth photographing this past September. I use the word “attractions” loosely. What I find interesting may go unnoticed by others.
I’m always happy to see a grain elevator that has been maintained and is appreciated. These are small town treasures.
It was the red and grey grain elevator jutting above Utica that drew my husband and me off the highway and into this community as a freight train roared through town.
Utica may not have a website, but it has this sign to tell you a bit about the town.
From there we swung onto Main Street and noted that Utica was founded in 1858, if the signage on Utica Storage is accurate. We laughed at the “ELV. PRETTY HIGH” notation.
The law…
…up close.
And, if not for Randy, I would have missed the 10 Commandments posted on the front of the building.
The “can’t miss it” house.
Then, in a residential area, a Victorian house painted in lavender hues presided on a corner. I wondered for a second if it might be a tea house, but saw no such signage. Apparently the owner just really likes this hue given the outbuildings are also painted lavender.
This reminded me of my Aunt Marilyn, whose house is not lavender, but who loves the color. And I once worked with legendary Northfield News editor Maggie Lee, who wore only lavender.
Utica is definitely a farming community.
Utica’s final attractions were two tractors—a wonderfully restored John Deere and a rusting Farmall—staged for sale outside a shed.
Now, if we’d taken the fast route home via Interstate 90, we would have missed all of this. Utica would remain just a sign along the interstate. I would know nothing of its character, its individuality, its colors.
© Copyright 2015 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
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