forgetting the past?

Milbrook Village is a re-created village of an old mill town of the 1800's. Some of the buildings and structures are as old and original as the mill town itself and others have been damaged by age and mother nature over the years; so, in the 1960's (according to Frank Dale in the Skylands vistor website www.njskyland.com) during the Tock's Dam Project the village as given new life and now managed by the Millbrook Village Society and part of the National Park system.  According to the park service in 1832 Abram Garis built a grain mill near the Van Campens Mill brook stream. His mill was in a better location  than other mills and soon became the predominant milling location. Over the years as things changed and so did the name; it was shortened to "Millbrook.". In 1875 the village hit is peak with 75 people living there and just over 19 structures. Then the Civil War followed by the Industrial Revolution came. Due to its distance from the railroad, changes in milling practices, and better income offered elsewhere, small towns such as this disappeared over time and by the early 1900's Millbrook eased to exist other than in memory. In 1950's the blacksmith was the only reminder that life was once lived here. And by the 1960's it became part of the park service.

I visited yesterday during the  off peak season so there was no actors or others present to demonstrate how life was back then. I didn't mind though because it meant I had the village mostly to myself and I could see what life was like back then as scenes of Little House on the Prairie played in my head. I admire those who lived in small towns such as this as they embody what "America" is all about at least to me anyway. I am sure the essence of who we are hasn't changed much over time. Young people probably dreamed of a better tomorrow, of achieving more, escaping life, being mischievous  etc. They didn't realize that escaping the past didn't always mean a better tomorrow. No one wants to work hard to survive,  I mean who really wants to wake up at the crack of dawn only to work very hard all day long only to wake up and do it all over again?? I certainly do not.. We all want an easy pass. I look back and I'm so thankful for "progress" and the conveniences of today--I go to the store for all my needs. I don't have to wake early to milk the cow, gather eggs, clean out the stalls, etc. I don't have to labor in the fields. I can go to the doctor when I'm sick and drive a car with AC and heat whenever I want to change my location. I may work hard all day but my hours are way better and I don't "labor" at least not physically speaking.

However, I wonder are we better off? Over the years as generations  have come and gone, have we lost the pride of hard work? Have we lost the importance that ties of a tight community bring? I hate to watch the news anymore because is all about hatred, murder, affairs, and scandals. I'm not saying these things haven't occurred since the beginning of time. I know that since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit that sin entered this world, but it seems more rampant and faith some days seems to be a thing of the past. I know its not because it takes one person for faith to be present but the comparison is that faith used to be the forefront of these societies regardless of what the religion was the community went to church together, they shared the struggles and triumphs together. As wars  and the industrial revolution changed the face of this nation, did we over time lose the essence of who we are? People complain there are no jobs. There are jobs but no one whats them. We all want that "easy pass," but does that even exist? At least when the farmer or mill worker were through for the day it was family time to sit around the table and talk. Today that is rare as families are torn in many directions often attending various sporting events, meetings, etc. And now with the age of the cell phone/technology we are never truly "off." We now have an online presence vs a real connection with our peers and the ones we love most.  I watch young people stand  near each other but have very little interaction other than to point out a cool pic on snapshot or instagram. I may not want to return to farming or tolling by my hands all day but I don't want to lose the instilled values, faith, or community of the past either.