Asked and Answered | Bob Biram: A Missouri Village at the Center of It All

While the village, 62 miles east-northeast of Springfield, is happily obscure, said its mayor, Bob Biram, it has had at least one other interesting occurrence: During the Civil War, according to local legend, a young man now known as Grandpa Hicks fought for the South, while another youngster, Grandpa Benson, chose the North. During a battle, Grandpa Benson was said to have captured Grandpa Hicks and proceeded to lock him in a root cellar. Grandpa Hicks was able to dig his way to freedom with a pocketknife. After the war, they met up again in Plato and became lifelong friends.

Mr. Biram, 66, discusses the village’s newfound fame.

Q. What has been the response in Plato to the news that it is at the very center of America?

A. Well, it’s something that doesn’t happen very often. People are talking about it. They are planning big things. The school is planning some sort of program.

Q. Tell me more about the plans.

A. It will be May 9. The band will play. The color guard will be there. There will be barbecues. (In the background, the mayor’s wife, Susan Biram, can be heard prompting him). The choir will sing patriotic songs. We’ll have the celebration right in the middle of town, which is not very big — about half a mile either way. I think we can fit everybody in town, but I’m not sure. We haven’t tried it before.

Q. How many people live in Plato?

A. At the time of the census there were just 109 people. We’re down to about 100 now. We’re near Fort Leonard Wood, so people are in and out all the time.

Q. What’s there to do in town?

A. There’s really not much to do. There are two churches and the bank. There’s also a welding shop and a cafe. And the school. The school is where most of the activity is. There’s baseball and basketball of all sorts and volleyball.

Q: Have people been showing up in town out of curiosity?

A. There’s been some people dropping in at the bank wanting to know if there are T-shirts or brochures or something. We did have some postcards made up. We ordered about 100, and we thought that was plenty to go around, but we ran out. They sold like hot cakes. We’ve ordered 200 more. (The postcards cost 50 cents apiece.)

Q: Will you be prepared for the day when the country’s population migrates even farther to the south and west and Plato won’t be at the center of things anymore?

A. We understand that. I think the town east of us, Edgar Springs, had it for the past 10 years. It’s just our turn. We’ll accept it and then move on.