Director’s Letter

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Frank Lott

HISTORY, ARTS AND CULTURE INTERSECT AT THE CORNER OF SECOND & COMMERCE

I recently re-read my friend John O’Brien’s book A History of Fort Campbell, along with his insightful article in the January issue of Second & Commerce about the establishment of Camp Campbell in 1942. I feel compelled to share a thought on this unique relationship between our city of Clarksville and the city of Fort Campbell – what John refers to as a “world-class Army home.”

John’s final chapter, titled “Civitas” (Latin for “the city”), quotes the Greek philosopher Aristotle, who wrote in 350 B.C., “When several villages are united in a single, complete community, large enough to be nearly or quite self-sufficing, the city comes into existence, originating in the bare needs of life, and continuing in existence for the sake of the good life.”

There is a parallel to be drawn between John’s history of Fort Campbell and our newly opened children’s exhibit, Exploring Our Town: An Adventure for All Ages, which delves into how and why a town is formed. There is no guarantee that growth and viability will be sustained. One can speculate that the cities of Clarksville and Fort Campbell both happened somewhat by accident, yet each has flourished because of the other. We are fortunate indeed that we have a “city within our city” that stirs in us both patriotic pride and a shared appreciation for the military families living among us.

John’s final sentence reads “Along the way, if we seek to remain a worldclass Army home, we should remember Aristotle’s injunction about the nature of the civitas once it comes into being: the nature of the city is not just that men live, but that men live well.” I feel the same applies to us who live outside the gates of Fort Campbell. It is worth your time to explore and learn more about your city.

Enjoy this issue of Second & Commerce.