Union in Unity

The town of Unity may not have a post office, stoplight or gas station, but Democrats are hoping it's the right setting for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton's first joint campaign event. (Tracy Lee Carroll, NHPR)

Unity, New Hampshire is so small it doesn’t have a post office, a stoplight, or a gas station - forget about a zip code.

An 1856 description of Unity that currently hangs in the town office lists the population at 961... and sheep at 5994.

Today, most of the sheep are gone.

The town’s population is larger, but not even double what it was 152 years ago.

It’s not exactly a place that’s prepared for the crush of campaign workers and media.

So people are learning on the fly.

"I want to know why the town has the name Unity..."
"That’s what everybody asks....that is."
"Why? Do you know why?"
"Well..."

WMUR’s Jean Mackin is probably the fifth or sixth journalist to ask 83-year-old Roberta Callum about the town name.

Callum, a Historical Society member, was on the steps of the town hall to meet with the first wave of reporters.

"It was named Unity because it was unifying people, because - wait a minute, I’ll get it here...."

"Is that the town handbook?"

A bit flustered, Callum explains settlers from three communities searching for land of their own came together peacefully.

With all the practice she’ll get, the sharp-eyed Callum will be as smooth as the best industry flack by Friday.

In the scheme of things, her task is relatively easy.

The event is scheduled to take place at the elementary school.

A rumor making its way around is that 5000 people are going to show up.

"Where are all these people going to go? We only have like six outlets in this building."

Town librarian Maryellen Bellamer.

"They are going to have to come with their own equipment and be prepared. This building only holds 250 people legally."

According to the state Democratic Party, it’s possible the event will happen outside.

Unity resident Sue Lawrence, a Democrat, says she's never seen something in town generate so much buzz.

"The people are special, what they represent, women and blacks getting their rights is special. I’ve got people calling me down from the Nashua area saying they are going to drive up. It’s like, ‘call me when you find anything out.’...people are excited."

Not everybody in town matches Lawrence’s enthusiasm.

Joe Bonacoursi says Clinton and Obama are just using the town as a big old prop.

"I mean, the two people coming into Unity to unite, I don't think it's a big deal, really. That's the name of the town and that's all it is."

Ralph Reed, who lives right next to the school, didn’t want the event to happen period.

"I didn’t ask him to come."

At age 73, Reed - nicknamed Tiny - is a giant of a man.

He stands 6’4, 6’5 with thick, massive hands.

"I got to cut my hay, and it isn’t cut yet. And I don’t need a bunch of people tramping through that.

"You guys are the worst offenders, the news people....when you leave there will be a bushel of coffee cups there and probably empty pizza boxes, and you will be in the next town having a party, and we will be cleaning up after you."

But with Reed, it goes deeper than concern for his property.

For Reed, Obama's race matters.

"He’s a good speaker but he’s ah, he’s like a Martin Luther King speaker. He rants like a Negro, and I don’t like that."

There’s no hint Reed’s view is shared by anybody else in Unity.

Ethel Jarvis says she’s proud.

"I just think it’s fantastic that they chose Unity to kind of like get their campaign off the ground."

Jarvis says the two Senators could have picked from any number of Unity’s around the country, including Unity, Maine.

Ironically, she says she doesn’t think Democrats in town need Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to show up.

She says with a smile, there’s already unity in Unity - at least on getting behind the Democratic nominee.

For NHPR News, I’m DG.