Friday, March 04, 2005
Napolean and Preston
If you haven't seen Napolean Dynamite, you probably should. The movie has become a cult hit since coming out on DVD. It's the story of the life of a high school nerd. It takes place in Preston, Idaho, a town I've been to many times. It's a mere 30 miles from my hometown of Logan, Utah.
Preston is an interesting place. Before the movie, its biggest claim to fame was That Famous Preston Night Rodeo. Since the movie was released, Preston has become "geek-chic captial".
I remember taking the turn on US-91 at the south end of town and driving down Main Street. I remember stopping at the A&W and Arctic Circle for hamburgers and shakes and looking at the pictures of the Employee of the Month. Names like Bertha, Eunice, Nephi, and Harold. I remember looking at the abandonded sugar beet factories that looked like bombed-out factories from World War II Europe. I remember the farms surrounding the rural town. Today, the brother-in-law of a former co-worker is the local mortician and a high school friend's husband manages the local King's variety store. A former high school classmate is the basketball coach at Preston High.
Anciently, much of northern Utah was covered by Lake Bonneville. When the land shifted due to an earthquake, the lake drained just north of Preston. There is a historical marker there today to commemorate the spot.
Preston is at the northen edge of Cache Valley, named for the location that many trappers of the 1800s cached their firs. Nearby Bear Lake was the home of THE Mountain Man Rendezous. Just south of Preston is the town of Franklin. The sign to the entrance to town there claims it to be the oldest city in Idaho. It probably is. Much of Idaho was originally settled by Mormon pioneers.
Cache Valley extends southward into northern Utah. Logan is the "big" city there. That's where I grew up. Yup, I went to high school in the same valley as Napolean Dynamite. In case you're wondering, high school was nothing like it was depicted in the movie. Candidates for student council did not have to put on skits.
One more thing...if you're a big Napolean Dynamite fan and planning a trip to Preston, be sure to let me know. I'll be happy to show you around.
Preston is an interesting place. Before the movie, its biggest claim to fame was That Famous Preston Night Rodeo. Since the movie was released, Preston has become "geek-chic captial".
I remember taking the turn on US-91 at the south end of town and driving down Main Street. I remember stopping at the A&W and Arctic Circle for hamburgers and shakes and looking at the pictures of the Employee of the Month. Names like Bertha, Eunice, Nephi, and Harold. I remember looking at the abandonded sugar beet factories that looked like bombed-out factories from World War II Europe. I remember the farms surrounding the rural town. Today, the brother-in-law of a former co-worker is the local mortician and a high school friend's husband manages the local King's variety store. A former high school classmate is the basketball coach at Preston High.
Anciently, much of northern Utah was covered by Lake Bonneville. When the land shifted due to an earthquake, the lake drained just north of Preston. There is a historical marker there today to commemorate the spot.
Preston is at the northen edge of Cache Valley, named for the location that many trappers of the 1800s cached their firs. Nearby Bear Lake was the home of THE Mountain Man Rendezous. Just south of Preston is the town of Franklin. The sign to the entrance to town there claims it to be the oldest city in Idaho. It probably is. Much of Idaho was originally settled by Mormon pioneers.
Cache Valley extends southward into northern Utah. Logan is the "big" city there. That's where I grew up. Yup, I went to high school in the same valley as Napolean Dynamite. In case you're wondering, high school was nothing like it was depicted in the movie. Candidates for student council did not have to put on skits.
One more thing...if you're a big Napolean Dynamite fan and planning a trip to Preston, be sure to let me know. I'll be happy to show you around.
// posted by Craig Berntson @ 3:09:00 PM 
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