Spring Grove mindset – Disney Leadership Keynote Speaker

Dear Son,

Spring Grove, Pennsylvania revolves around a massive, 160-year old Paper Mill.

Your Great Grandfather worked there. Your Grandfather worked and retired there. Your dad worked there for two summers during college.

Spring Grove is a small town, never needing a traffic light. Eventually, however, it got its first traffic light on the East end, a flashing yellow caution light, in the 1990s or maybe the 2000s.

road sign — The yellow caution light alerts drivers to the new roundabout that replaced a three-way fork in the road. There is 24/7 Tractor Trailer traffic bringing in lumber and hauling out paper. As the rural area attracted city folk, it became increasing difficult and dangerous for school busses, trucks, and rural residents to coexist without a more fluid traffic flow at this pinch point.

The mindset growing up there was laid back, hospitable, and as stereotypical small-town as you can get. Nothing fancy. Practical. Slow.

Laughman’s Market (and gas pump) was the size of a 7-11. Across from the High School, it parked maybe 15 cars tops. Eventually we got a grocery store, Kenny’s. An Arby’s followed years after Kenny’s.

While our High School was one of the smallest, our geographical region was one of the biggest. Why? Beyond the small town and Paper Mill was nothing but Farms and Farmland. Definitely not a growth-mindset community.

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By jeff noel