Jul 28

Written by: ngreditor
7/28/2009 7:06 PM 

Newman Grove finally on the map (but we might wish for better)

Kenneth Purscell

I’m never surprised when my daughters laugh at me, but I was taken aback to find them laughing at something on the Internet, looking at me, and then laughing even more uproariously. They finally calmed down enough to let me get to the computer.

All I can say is that none of this was deliberate on my part.

Somewhere during the end of September, a vehicle drove through town, taking pictures for the “street view” feature of Google Maps. This feature allows a user on the Internet to not only pull up a map of certain locations, but also to see pictures of locations. It is a valuable feature to point out landmarks for a trip.

However, life goes on while the pictures are being taken. I’ve scanned through some places that I’ve known and found: people jaywalking, a guy fixing a bicycle tire, a kid in a tree, and some other features of daily living.

My girls had searched for our address in Newman Grove, gone to street level and found…their dad and their dog. Yes, friends, I have become an Internet star, albeit a very dim star.

There I am: baggy jeans, t-shirt, suspenders. (Thank goodness my back is to the camera, or the impression would have been even uglier.) And there is our dog, Sheldon the Sheltie. Don’t think he’s been captured doing anything unseemly! But it must have been a near thing; I am clearly taking him out for his afternoon constitutional. We’re standing by the hedge on the north side, near the school.

Now I don’t mind the notoriety, maybe even the fame—or what passes for it. But I do have to apologize to my fellow residents for one quirk. When the fellow came through town with the fancy 360-degree camera, he saw fit to capture only Eighth Street, Highway 45, from north to south. He didn’t drive anywhere around town. A couple of vehicles ended up in a couple of shots. But in the photographer’s entire trip through our fair city, he found not one other person out and about.

Where was everybody? Was American Idol on? Did everyone go out to visit their mother? Or did everyone else but me get the note that Google Maps was coming and that they’d better hide.

The upshot is that my dog and I are the only visual representatives of the Newman Grove community on Google Maps. Sorry about that, folks. If we’d known, we both would have dressed up a little better.

I’m a little miffed at the photographer. Newman Grove deserves better treatment than just a quick shot of the highway—not to mention the absence of pictures of our main street. Richland Springs, Texas, (pop. 125 on a good day) gets thorough coverage. Wonsevu, Kansas, (pop. 4) gets the exact same treatment as we do, with the exception of a picture of a crazy man and his dog.

Just a guy, his dog, and his web browser.

The project continues, and someday someone else will come this way and complete the photographic mapping of our little town. When they do, let me know. I’ll be more than willing to have someone else do a better job of upholding our community pride.

In the meantime, you can find the evidence at maps. google.com. Search on 111 S 8th St., Newman Grove, NE, go to street view, swing the compass to the east and look for the old guy walking his canine friend.

Sheldon and I will be willing to autograph the picture.

Copyright ©2009 Newman Grove Reporter