The town is famous for being the original Main Street, and can evoke pangs of regret in anyone who’s left a small town for a big town – exactly the regret that informed many of Lewis’ novels.

The economics of America have made Main Street all the more interesting, as one reaches Sauk Centre by freeway now – one exit is historic, and bucolic, (as a road leading from a freeway can be) the other is clustered with gas stations and motels (I don’t think there’s a wal-mart. Very fitting.