#route22ny

Great post! I've long been interested in the oil country of western PA & NY but never delved into it...as a destination it's been too close to my starting points so I just pass through. There's an oil museum in one of the towns along NY 417 I've never stopped at. Will enjoy the story at the link and maybe make a point of exploring more next time through the area. 417 is one of my favorite roads in the state from about Painted Post to Olean, a nice alternative to 17/86.

Kind of a puff piece, maybe? I understand that a city is a business and the idea is to attract investment. It's great that downtown Cleveland is enjoying an upswing but IMHO what addresses the totality of the city and its population? Surely not a high-tech wall in the basketball arena. Or a garish casino. Or the goddam Republicans and their RNC. Thanks for sharing the link--provocative reading, even if it wasn't the author's intent.

In the process of reblogging your McKeesport RR bridge I did a quick google search, saw where McKeesport is the "4th most dangerous city in the US" after 3 towns down south. It's computed by per capita crime. I guess Camden NJ, the perennial frontrunner in this category, has gotten respectable!

I must be an idiot. I don’t understand how I never have problems in these classicly dangerous cities. I walk all over, and I talk to people. I talked to a few great older woman in Clairton, who told me about the US Steel fire, air quality, and the blight. I talked to another guy who seemed to have some mental issues, but I listened at length, and when I’d had enough I said I was going to take off, and he said OK and went about his business.

The problem I have in visiting these older steel towns and the more rural areas are the crazy right-wing nuts. The bumper stickers, confederate flags, the loudmouth Trump supporters in the bars, the aggressive tailgaters with their stupid oversized trucks and disrespectful, torn up flags. I don’t want to be around these people, at all. It’s as if they’ve lost their grip on reality, and they’re going to explode at any moment--and it appears some actually are considering all the gun violence.

Loving these photos from McKeesport as much as your earlier ones from Brownsvlle. These places look like there's not a soul living there. It's unsettling, compelling.

Unreal.

Fabulous photo!

Thank you! Since this was shot 5 years ago, the street beyond the overpass has been/is currently torn up for repair, the large Arcade building has burned, and the smaller adjoining building on the left has been demolished.

Jamestown, NY has quite an industrial history. Textile mills and furniture factories once dotted the area; the crescent wrench was developed here. Most of those industries are gone now, but Jamestown retains a number of these great historic structures.

I totally love this photo

Hope you are doing OK...local warning here (east of Watertown NY) called for 3-5 feet but so far only about 33" somewhere on Tug Hill. Be safe. If you have gas heat make sure drifting snow doesn't block the exhaust outlet. (Happened to me on Long Island one year, burner went out!)

Actually, things are just fine here. I’m resting at the moment before I go back out to finish shoveling, but I have everything I need. I’ve been using foot and hand warmers, and they’re amazing. 

My biggest concerns were that my nephews made it back to Pittsburgh safely on Christmas day, my sister didn’t try to go to work today (she didn’t) and my youngest nephew CJ was doing OK. CJ lives in the city now, and he’s working today at the Erie Zoo...yes, the animals must be fed!

The 2 gas furnaces in the house are vented through a central chimney, as are the gas fired water heaters, and I’ve never had issues.

My sister just texted me and said they just plowed her street for the first time...and that it’s snowing like crazy again in Lake City, about 20 minutes west of Erie. As I look outside I see it’s just beginning to snow again so I’m going to head out.