The Diary - August 16
The Diary
August 16, 2026
It rained a lot this week. Biblical, torrential downpours. Business was very slow Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and only picked up on Friday. The week felt flat and lacked a spark. Perhaps it was the gray skies and all that water. However, on Saturday, I witnessed an unexpected act of kindness that led to an interesting conversation that, in turn, sparked some introspection.
Saturday evening, I was seated in the Princeton train station waiting for the train to Chicago, speaking with Ida, the station master, when a couple entered. They handed Ida a Culver’s milkshake. The gentleman was the mayor, the woman, his wife. Ida later told me that they regularly bring her treats while she works.
Ida is the ideal station master and a great ambassador for Princeton. She makes sure passengers get on the correct train, welcomes disembarking passengers, and chats up any and all. That milkshake was a way of saying “thank you” for her work and a recognition that her efforts are appreciated.
Princeton is a prosperous and attractive town. There are few, if any, vacant storefronts on Main Street. Hanging baskets and corner planters are lush and plentiful downtown. Over the past few years, employment has increased. The high school has a good reputation. Many streets are lined with well-maintained and architecturally significant homes. Still, on hearing that the milkshake-man was the mayor, I asked him, “What are the biggest challenges facing Princeton?”
He cited the proliferation of slot machines. He estimated that $7 million is wagered each year in the town. Although Princeton collects some tax revenue from the gaming receipts, the wagered dollars are funds diverted from higher uses such as repairing homes, purchasing groceries, and supporting local shops and businesses. I have never been a fan of gambling, but this was a unique critique for me. I asked him what other challenges the town faces.
He responded that folks today are less philanthropic than in the past. Large capital campaigns for civic amenities like theaters and parks are no longer routine. Past generations saw it as their responsibility to give back to their hometown. The current generation, he lamented, if it has some extra liquidity, is more likely to buy a new Harley than invest in the community.
I was not expecting these answers. I thought the mayor would cite more traditional civic challenges like macroeconomic issues, tight budgets, or the difficulty keeping young folks in town after college. The challenges the mayor mentioned involve individual behavior and choices. I doubt that they are unique to Princeton. I know that they are hard to address. People will (and should) spend their money as they see fit. But I wonder how you build loyalty to and love for a community, even one as easy to admire as Princeton, so it becomes natural and common to bequeath some of your treasure to your hometown.