I’ve actually had a few people ask, “Why do you live in Neponset?” Implying, you know, “Small town, no cultural advantages, ya-da-ya-da-ya-da-ya-da…”
Well, here’s a couple of reasons I don’t consider Neponset a cultural desert. A Neponset business and a Neponset woman deserve a shout-out today.
Let’s do ”ladies first.”
This Saturday evening the Kewanee Schools Foundation will induct Freya (Block) Watson, Neponset native, into the Kewanee Athletic Hall of Fame. Freya is the first KHS female grad from Neponset to be so honored.
Beginning with her 2009 freshman year at KHS, she racked up wins and high placements in high school and IHSA track (shot put and discus), culminating with these awards in her senior year: Illinois Top Times Indoor State Champion in shot put; Brockman Invite Champion in shot and discus, (she holds both records); Brockman Relays Queen; Three Rivers All Conference First Team in shot put and discus; KHS grad with most school spirit (voted by her classmates).
On to her college years at Southern Illinois University Carbondale: Freya added to her track repertoire by taking up the hammer throw. She became the only KHS athlete, male or female, to be a Division I All American. She left SIUC with a BS degree in Agriculture Systems and Education, and later with a Masters in Agribusiness Economics. Good going, Freya! Nepo is proud of you!
Last Saturday the world headquarters of a very successful company, Martin Engineering, held an open house. Where? Why, in its longtime home, Neponset, Illinois, USA. Every five years Martin celebrates its existence with a community event. Martin has been here for 80 years.
Founded in the 1940s by Kewanee resident and owner of a bee-keeping enterprise, Edwin Peterson, Sr., Martin Engineering started in a small older building right off Rt. 34 in Neponset. And it grew. And grew. And grew, until now it covers a lot of ground, literally and figuratively.
Because Martin has business all over the world, tiny Neponset has probably hosted people of as many nationalities as many a big city. We take it in stride, assuming that an exotic stranger in town is probably visiting the home office. Our small community probably puzzles foreigners at first, but we all get used to each other and sometimes long friendships are formed.
The Sunday party featured a hearty Midwestern buffet in the factory cafeteria—the cake had LOADS of good frosting!—and employees provided a guided tour of the building. Our guide said about 200 people are currently employed in the Neponset setting. Some started as high schoolers, working the “little” jobs after school or on Saturdays.
I came away impressed by the very up-to-date working conditions. In the factory, I saw all kinds of machines, big and little, that I understood—not. Every part of the operation was spandy-clean and well organized, including the employees on each tour designated to lead anyone back to the cafeteria if you couldn’t make it through the maze of halls, stairs, and rooms that stretch through the two-story structure. I quit the tour early on and went back to the cafeteria (no, not for more cake), where, even better than the food was the reconnection with people I hadn’t seen in years.
The open house was indeed a community party. Martin Engineering has provided Neponset good jobs, village enhancements, and every five years a warm, gracious community event. As with any entity you can name, the business doesn’t please all the people all the time. But all things considered, Neponset is glad to be its home.
Just two of the reasons I love Nepo.
Keep the faith, look forward to a beautiful autumn, and—hang on!
Your friend, Carol
