A street scene in downtown Albert Lea, Minnesota.
IN THE MANY COMMUNITIES I tour, I always seek the everyday scenes, the snapshot details that comprise a place. I may find the snapshot in an alley. Along a side street. In the heart of a downtown.
Alley-side bar art in downtown Albert Lea.
Wherever, I look, I see clues that reveal a town’s personality.
What a great name, Elbow Room.
In business signs, I can spot humor and/or creativity.
No flashy signage here, but someone’s business, someone’s dream.
In conditions of buildings, I can identify pride or lack thereof. Or perhaps it’s simply a lack of funds to upkeep a structure. Or the desire to keep things simple.
Downtown Albert Lea boasts a sprawling Commercial Historic District with lovely architecture.
One of the many stunning buildings in the historic downtown.
Albert Lea provided plenty of snapshot details. I see a southeastern Minnesota community that appreciates its past through preservation of historic buildings. I see a town that’s working hard to save itself.
An inspirational message chalked onto steps leading to/from a downtown Albert Lea parking lot.
Community service messages and time and temperature flash across the board on an old grain elevator.
I see positivity and care in messages.
Nancy’s Cafe, presents an iconic Main Street appearance.
Expect basics like his hand-formed hamburger patty at Nancy’s.
I see the mix of small town Main Street and chain businesses along Interstate 35 meeting travelers’ needs. A duo personality town.
This old grain elevator has been repurposed into another use. Note the upper level balcony and windows. I asked around town, but no one could tell me what’s housed here.
Agricultural merchandise is showcased in a downtown antique store window.
Agriculturally-born. Yet evolving into something else.
A Total Security truck parked next to the old grain elevator.
Every part, every building, every sign, every person, every scene snapshots into a single album—Albert Lea.
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This concludes my four-part series on Albert Lea. To read my first three posts, click here and here and here.
© Copyright 2015 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
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