Cedarville, Missouri is only 1,400 people, or so said the 1980 census count. The local steel plant has since doubled in its number of employees, now having 1,000 people scattered between three shifts. Some people drive over twenty miles to work here. There is one bank, and most other businesses have sold out to Young’s Family and Home Center. Groceries, clothing, hardware, auto supplies, pharmacy, and lumber all at one location.
Still there are two farm supply stores, and a cattle sale barn north of town. Two auto repair shops, a few cafes, three taverns, one convenience store, two gas stations, a pizza parlor, and four small flower and gift shops. As I mentioned before, Cedarville is a small town with churches, and lots of rumors to keep the old ladies talking. There is a town square with park benches for the old folks to gather, gossip, and for the old men to play checkers. Back in 1984, a cute young blonde girl, going down to Young’s on her skateboard, would stop and spend time talking with the old guys. Her daily stops was something for the old guys to look forward to, looking older and filled out beyond her young age, she would discuss anything the old guys wanted to talk about.
Even the heating and A/C work is handled by people working from Young’s, who can finance whatever you may need. Need your house remodeled? Just call the lumber department at Young’s. They are the only sellers of real estate and insurance here in Cedarville. Hey, didn’t I say this is a small town? The only building in this town over two stories high is Young’s.
There is a private resort community up back of where the old school was. It’s rumored to have over 1,000 people living there, but The Hill as it’s known is outside the town’s city limits. Some say it’s owned by the Colombian government, it’s outside US jurisdiction. No one knows what goes on up there, except William Johnson, general manager of Cedarville Steel. He and Kare-Ann Young live up there as does Colonel Ted Sanders and his two wives. He’s the chairman of the Cedarville State Bank, and president of the company that owns the steel plant.
The Hill, has a PGA sanctioned golf course, armed guards, and is off-limits to the public. 1,400 acres of luxury and privacy, which serves as the Colombian Consulate General. PSL Holdings, LTD., Bogota, Colombia SA owns the steel plant, and two more in near-by towns. They also own the Advanced Aircraft Research and Development plant 12 miles north in Mtn. High. Once in a while, a UPS or FedEx driver will comment on what they witness when making deliveries at The Hill.
