Several years ago I made a game of going around to nearby towns with my camera. I wrote a few “portrait of a small town” posts as a result, including this one about Fairmont. My photos reflected my mood at the time: I noticed a lot of sad, broken things.

Recently I was asked to take photos at Fairmont’s Hometown Market (my very first paid photo gig!), which is a new event put on by Mainstreet Fairmont. It was so uplifting to find a completely different energy from the last time I visited with my camera. This time around, the downtown felt positively vibrant.

The market was well-organized and well-attended. I could just feel how happy people were to be out and about.

There was beautiful produce and lots of home-grown plants.

Homemade baked goods, an ice cream truck, smoothies, and empanadas.

I couldn’t believe how many creative small businesses were showcasing their wares. Really well-done, niche goods, like homemade pet products, soaps, jewelry, pottery, and decor.

Can you believe the leaded glass in this building? It amazes me every time I see it.

Lots of local and WV-themed goods.

And just look at these onesies. I cannot resist a tiny baby tie-dye.

I just love that so many local people are clearly getting very creative in their spare time. Without this well-organized market, I’d never have known.

Inside the firehouse, the owner of a local flower shop had laid out hundreds of plants she was using to make 80 baskets to hang on the light posts downtown. She told me she is now carrying local pottery in her shop, which she fills with plants to sell. I love these types of symbiotic relationships.

So much has changed for the better in Fairmont since I last took photos there. There are multiple new businesses downtown, and lots of old buildings have been fixed up. The beautiful architecture that has existed for years looks charming and interesting again, rather than a sad reminder of better times gone by.

After working in the community development field for just three years, I can already see that the work is hard and slow. I therefore feel the need to take note and celebrate when people are able to band together to make the change they want to see.

This new market highlights all the work that so many people in Fairmont have been doing in the background for years. I like to think it’s also a harbinger of better days to come.