…Small towns. We come from one in Pennsylvania with just a bit larger population than Larry’s location…{roughly, 450}. Rt. 30, the cross country highway was main st. for decades. The town thrived with dozens of small businesses for years…Many years…!
It even benefited from the coal industry {in the region}, and of course the multi steel mills in Johnstown. At it’s peak: 25,000 employees.
In fact, the town’s origins date to 1778 and Forbs Road passed thru…
In 1937 {finished in '38} route 30 was taken out of the town via an update on the highway for 7 miles. {A bypass just outside of town}. Taking the thru traffic off “main st.”, started the beginning of shrinking businesses.
And then…in 1940, October 1st., the Pennsylvania Turnpike {10 mi. south, parallel to rt. 30}, was opened, reducing much of the {thru}, traffic on route 30.
That has continued for decades until the town is now just “there”…nothing going in new…no new businesses…but the population is still roughly the same, and appears it will remain about that going forward.
County seat is just 10 mi. distant…and Johnstown, a small city {of flood fame}, is just 20 mi. north. So any and all that is needed on a daily routine is near by. So, the town continues on as a frozen in time residential spot. Farming continues around the area.
The railroad {even passenger service}, 80 years ago is still in existance for some freight hauling, and some of it now supporting a unit train hauling coal out, and probably {in large part}, for expor