h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This town is beautiful, once the snow melts. The bunnies in the backyard are cheerful, and the daffodils are in bloom, and even the feisty little red squirrel who has a lien on the place seems a bit less crotchety than before.

Some people asked me, 'Why do you want to move to a small town? You've lived in big cities.'

Are you kidding? This place is every bit as colourful as Philadelphia, Cologne, or Athens. And living only a block away from the main drag, I feel like I own the place. After all, the out-of-towners have to pay to park, even on my one-way street. Whereas *I* have garage space. Okay, the garage is about a foot wider than my little SUV, but if I'm very careful, I can close the door. They didn't plan for SUVs in 1910.

We've been out exploring the territory on an early Saturday afternoon. I took pictures, which should be nice once they're developed...in a couple of weeks. I didn't have a digital handy, and film is going the way of the dinosaur.

This place has charm to spare. We walked...nay, strolled up Main Street as far as the courthouse. The courthouse, from the 1880s, has a big steeple with a statue of Justice with Scales 'way up top. It has that German Rathaus feel - but, alas, no moving figures around the clock. I think this was remiss of them. I wanted to see a Civil War cavalry charge, or similar, at noon.

The little park across from the courthouse is wonderful. In the centre is a huge Civil War memorial, a big pointy thing with soldiers and sailors and such. The park sports two WWI howitzers, and memorials to the veterans of WWI, WWII, and Korea. The best is the Vietnam memorial, though: It is its own piece of The Wall, and contains the prose poem that is also in Washington, 'If you are able...', which reads in part:

'If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go...' Written in 1970 by Major Michael Davis O'Donnell, who was killed in action in that war. That memorial brought a tear to the eye. All in all, the park's a place for reflection.

You can sit down anywhere you like in town - there must be a park bench every 20 feet. And the view is always interesting. The town's well kept up...let me put it this way: it looks like they took 1915 and wrapped it in plastic. Not in a bad sense - they just covered the wood in vinyl siding and kept the wind out with double glazing. Good moves, both.

Elektra stops traffic downtown. Or she did, until I explained to her that if she's standing on the red squares on the pavement, the cars will stop. She got it. You have to wait for the lights at the courthouse, though. I suspect some of our fellow citizens of speeding. The sign said 25 mph, and they were doing at least 30...half a block from where all the cop cars were parked, too...

Ah, near where the cop cars were parked was an amazing sight...let me see if I can find a picture of this breathtaking building....

Ah, here it is. Isn't it insanely interesting?

http://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1267/5188720116_d0da2f0dbb_b.jpg

Apparently, that monster cost $120,000 to build, back in the late 19th Century. They only ever hanged one person there, a murderer named Voycheck in 1911. Allegedly, tickets to the hanging are treasured historical heirlooms...

Needless to say, this building is no longer in use. I think the real jail's a few miles down the road. Probably more secure, but does it have two-foot-thick oak floors? Octagonal projecting wings? Two-foot-thick ashlar dressed sandstone walls? I imagine not. No appreciation for masonry these days.

We saw other things on our walk: a tiny Pomeranian sunning itself in the window of the nail salon near the tattoo parlour, both in a quaint old building across from the courtyard (with Harleys parked in front). Other people strolling with happy dogs. Antiques in one window, computer parts in the next. The 'County Seat Restaurant'. Guys busy at the car wash. And the biggest crowd downtown today: exactly where we were going, the CVS Pharmacy. There must have been 20 people in there at one time...

Most of whom were listening, as were we, to the clerk explaining why he wouldn't be there himself when we picked up our film in two weeks. He was accepting a new position at Walmart...we'd never met him before, but we appreciated the news, and wished him well, as did the elderly couple behind us.

Like I said, what's not to love about a place so friendly, so picturesque, and so full of historical conundra to ponder? I feel privileged to have had the walk.

I'll share the pics when they get back from their journey.

ooooo! sounds so gorgeous! we're thinking of leaving this so-called city, for admitidly another so-called city... but one which is.... so just not a real city, because its got like real shops for a start, and , just ai't busy like here... - was only today looking at a grade 2 listed, medevial place, sounded so gorgous, and actually affordible! we could live in it

that jail house... the old one, sounds fabulus!

Well, you wouldn't want to live in it, I don't think...I think the plumbing sounds substandard...

Wonderful to hear you are settling into your new town, and enjoying it. Looking forward to seeing the pics when they get back

Good sign, happy dogs. Happy dogs means a good place. . And a good place means happy humans also. Sounds lovely, great descriptions, transports me right there. And glad it was all worth the move!

Wow... thanks for the update and looking forward to the photos!

I'm sure Elektra is still stopping traffic... without stepping on red pavement squares!

You have a red squirrel? You lucky, lucky person... I'd have to travel up to Scotland to see one of those

You still have a film camera and you used it? I remember those costing an arm and a leg to get developed, I was so happy with my first digital! I'd never regress back to film. I don't own a printer now, don't forget you'll have to scan them before you can upload to show us! What a chore that all sounds now. We appreciate the effort!

That jail looks magnificent Quite the most attractive jail I've ever seen, not that I've seen many, nor any insides

You've made it all sound so attractive I've put you down on my wish-list for visiting, once I've beaten the Chaser, of course

The film developer includes a CD with the digital foties, so little work involved.

Yes, this place is dead interesting. And the red squirrels around here are a terror - they're American red squirrels, able to lick twice their weight in grey squirrel...

Glad you're enjoying the new home! What part of the country are you in now?

Heh heh you had me at the bunnies in the backyard!

Anyways I'm happy to hear you're settling in and finding the place to your liking!

We're in western Pennsylvania, KB.

This afternoon, we were out at the farm again, enjoying dogs, cats, a passing herd of deer, chickens, etc. Very nice.

And talk about comforts! This 250-year-old farmhouse has its own gas well for heating and cooking, but also a large-screen TV so we could all watch 'Paint Your Wagon' in comfort.

OOO... that combination of old and new can be so cool... I'm kinda thinking some ancient place here in UK... but, so internet hooked up, on the inside

Try living in one of these Georgian houses in Philadelphia...http://www.ushistory.org/tour/elfreths-alley.htm

One is only 9 feet wide! (But had a huge flat-screen TV in, last I saw...