January 0

All towns have a history, one that is unique and is their own. Some might go so far as to say that every town, no matter how small or grand, has all the characteristics of a human being. It is born, it is enamored, its heart breaks. The town finds its place amongst the rest in the world. Archer is no exception, by far; it breathes and sighs and sings and sleeps. For a few years, it seemed as though Archer had died, but no, it still lives. Archer’s pulse is the scratch of pencils in the schoolrooms, the pace of feet along Main Street, the opening and closing of the doors in its five-hundred and fifty homes, the crash of the waves on its twelve-foot wide beach, and the whirr of the denim factory in the east side. And to nearly one thousand people, Archer is, above all, home.

At some point in Archer’s life, one of the city councilmen decided that there were not enough holidays in the calendar. “Holidays,” he said (his name, by the way, was Arnold Archer, my grandfather and the descendant of the town’s founder, Arthur David Archer. He was a vast man, in both size and deed. He kept his long mustache impeccably trimmed and was, according to all who knew him, the kindest man ever to be a councilman), “are days held in great importance to those who celebrate them; the people of faith or creed who believe that these days are, above others, exceptional.” Here he paused, beaming, with his hands held out to the entire town, who had gathered to hear his booming voice, “but I believe, as you will surely agree, that our own Archer is, above other towns, quite exceptional.” Applause, rising to kiss his words. “Therefore, to celebrate our home, I propose that we make every day of the year, beginning with the first of January, a holiday to commemorate some of the finest moments in our history.”

The idea was met with enthusiasm and excitement. Immediately a new council was created, the Council of Town History, and Arnold Archer was named its head. The council pored through every historical record that could be found, marking off significant events, and debating which three hundred and sixty five (plus the added day for Leap Year) would be chosen as a Holiday.

In order to help the citizens of Archer keep track of which day was which, an Almanac was created that described each event, and how it is commemorated. This volume which you hold in your hands is the thirty-third edition of the Archer Almanac. It is the most complete edition to date; and each day has been written so that you, who might not be a resident of Archer, might better understand the goings-on in this town. I have kept my grandfather’s tradition in editing the histories myself. I can only hope that it is to your liking.

Annabella Archer
Head Editor and Historian





In case you don't know; I have decided to take the story I wrote a week or so ago and expand it into a full, 366 story history, all taking place in the magical and quite exceptional town of Archer.