The Horse From Good Intentions:

August 4, 2019

This morning, as I drove from Pittsburgh back to Grafton, West Virginia, I decided to get off the Interstate and explore the town of “Prosperity.” For decades the name has intrigued me - like so many other names of towns across America, with names that make a statement - a statement of intent by those who settled the town. While trying to find Prosperity I first came upon the town of Amity; (Amity: Friendship, friendliness, harmony, harmoniousness, understanding, accord, cooperation, companionship, amicableness, goodwill, cordiality, warmth.)

Only one road passes through Amity: Highway 19. On either side of the highway are houses, constructed just at the road’s edge, dating back many years - although doubtful that they are the original structures of the settlement.  Two churches exist; a Methodist, and a Presbyterian - the Methodist being the oldest: built in 1867. The Presbyterian was built in 1874.

Continuing on, I finally arrived in Prosperity - named after “the optimism of its settlers.” The town was much like Amity, although is a somewhat better state of upkeep. The houses were set against the road, on both sides - some with small front yards. The town sets at the ‘Y’ of Highways 18 and 221.

Having left Prosperity behind, I made a few wrong turns and ended up, as best I can figure, near the town of “Good Intention”; seven houses. a Presbyterian Church, and a barn, on West Union Trace.  This “barn”- a well-weathered barn that had seen many years come and go, was at the end of West Union Trace, which appeared to be the main road through the town.


As if framed like a photograph on the wall, a reddish-brown horse, facing to the left, stood in the large open doorway along the side of the barn. It was the only sign of life within the town. Each time that I drove through, which was a total of three times - nearly back to back, there was not a person - or even a dog or a cat in sight. It was as if all life had vanished, or had become sequestered within the outer walls of the houses that covered the hilly landscape.

With each of these three towns I wondered if their namesake ever became a reality. Did “friendship and harmony" become a way of life in Amity? Did those who resided in “Prosperity” achieve the prosperity of their new life? And with the town of “Good Intent” - the least difficult to achieve, how did things pan out?