The Leibowitz Society's post on maps got me thinking. Four miles from my home is an Old Stone House. It would be quite unremarkable these days, a modest three story home, except for the fact that it has been turned into a historical museum. Today it is at the intersection of two small state highways. Those highways follow the routes of two Native American trails which were major routes before the American Revolution. Back when it was built, the Old Stone House was a major rest stop. At times half a dozen people would sleep in each bed. Today it is just a curiosity.
These days the major activity near here is a place called Cranberry Township. Its claim to fame is that it is at the intersection of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 79. As we come off Hubbert's Mesa and gasoline gets relatively more expensive, I wonder how long it will be before Cranberry Township is just another forgotten way station.
High quality roads were first put in for bicycles, and automobiles came along at the perfect time to put them to use. So Cranberry has some hope.
ReplyDeleteBut really, if it gets real bad, but not collapse bad, it is hard not to see more rail and water-born transport coming back.