If Only Lebanon NH Had Had a Longbranch Saloon . . .

If only Lebanon, New Hampshire had had a Longbranch Saloon, I am reasonably certain it would have ousted Lebanon, South Dakota from the number one spot on Fadi BouKaram’s list of favorite Lebanons.

BouKaram, a Lebanese photographer, made two trips around the United States to visit each and every town named Lebanon, sometimes gifting cedar trees as he went. Artful tried to piece together the story of his time in Lebanon, New Hampshire with the help of some sleuth-y Upper Valley residents. (Click here for The Tree That Was, Then Wasn’t.)

Recently one of the sleuths unearthed the above video, in which BouKaram describes his journey and his affinity for Lebanon, South Dakota, a town of less than 30 people where Hazel and two other women tend bar at the Longbranch. Don’t want to give too much away, but there are accordions, darts, and the rapid degustation of trays of baklava. This five-minute video, above, is guaranteed to warm your heart and maybe even those winter-cold toes.

“I felt like I’m on an episode of Cheers.” Stories elicit empathy. “I heard a lot of people’s stories. . . Just getting to know people destroys barriers.” —Fadi BouKaram

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And in case you are wondering . . . Susan B. Apel shuttered a lifelong career as a law professor to continue an interest (since kindergarten) in writing. Her freelance business, The Next Word, includes literary and feature writing; her work has appeared in a variety of lit mags and other publications including Art New England, The Woven Tale Press, The Arts Fuse, and Persimmon Tree. She connects with her neighbors through Artful, her blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley. She’s in love with the written word.