You come across the monument in a rather odd way. While wandering
around the town, you come across an older gentleman dressed in rags, holding
a sign saying "WILL WORK FOR FOOD". Somewhat surprised that homelessness
isn't confined to large cities, you also realize he's not hardy enough
to work much at all. Feeling a momentary wave of compassion, you
pull out your wallet and offer him a twenty dollar bill. He grabs
it eagerly, gives you a genuine smile and thanks you before he scurries
away.
You follow at a distance, and he heads down an alley you'd not noticed
before. The alley opens into the back end of the Branchville public
park. Not more than 10 feet from the end of the alley, is a large
monument. You have to walk around it to see the front, and when you
do, you realize it's the monument to John Branch, local hero, and father
of local Sheriff John Branch Jr.
You look the monument over. It stands about 12 feet tall, from the
base, which is cement, to the figure on top, a full size figure of a man.
It is surrounded by a small garden which is blocked off by a short fence.
Nevertheless, there is graffiti on the cement base of the monument, and
it looks like there might have been a mustache painted on the man itself.
The man is posed with one arm up over his head, hand open and palm out,
and the other arm pointing across his chest toward the West. Then
you read the plaque:
In grateful honor of John Branch who,
with the power of God on his side, helped start a new town, which from
this day (February 28th, 1963) forward, shall be called "BRANCHVILLE" in
honor of John Branch!
The past is gone
A new day's come
From this day on
We'll follow the Son
From all looks and appearances,
this could be a marker for a town that had never existed before, only you
know differently. As you search for clues, something keeps drawing
you back to the statue's position. It seems as if it had been designed
as a silent reminder of what had happened. Those who know the past,
probably know why he has a hand out as a sort of stop signal, and another
hand pointed... where was he pointing? You look that direction, but
all you see is more of the park. Why would he be pointing West?
You think of anything having to do with the West... Go West, young man...
Wagons West... nothing seems to fit.
You decide you've seen
the monument as best you can now, so you leave, still wondering.