Outtakes - The Smallest Towns

The entire population of Centerville, New England's smallest town, gathers in its town hall, a former school. On the desk is the ballot box reserved for town meeting.

A recognized expert in his field, glacial geologist Dr. Harry Born sums up Centerville in seven words: "It is unique to the United States." As the glaciers retreated about I 3,000 years ago. they left remarkable ridges (moraines), bumps (kames), and ponds (kettles) in this tiny town in the middle of Washington County.

Blueberries now grow just about everywhere in town; there are many fields. During the summer the town gets busy, but much of the labor that hand-picks the berries comes from out of town. Slowly town natives are dwindling. Thurman Caler will tell you, "Used to be a lot of Calers -- that's why I live on Caler Road. Now, not so many."

Since houses are spread out, folks make a point in the winter of driving by a neighbor's house to make sure smoke is coming out of the chimney. And last Halloween, Arnold Davis, 77 years old, got in his car to deliver candy to the few children in town. It is in these and other acts of kindness that you find the center of Centerville.

A hunter displays the coyote he shot on the blueberry barrens of Centerville.

The Smallest Towns: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Connecticut, Rhode Island, or Massachusetts.