Saratoga Springs, NY - July 2007

Saratoga Springs
The first permanent settler arrived in Saratoga Springs around 1776. Soon after, the medicinal springs in the area fostered a thriving tourist trade. It was established as a town in 1819 and became a city in 1915. In the early 19th century, the community became famous as a spa. The Saratoga Race Course is the oldest continuously-operating Thoroughbred track in the United States. Its population today is about 26,000.

Sidewalk Cafes
A crisp, sunny day. Slow, late lunches. Flowers and greenery and people-watching from the little tables at the sidewalk cafes.

Art and Artists

Congress Park - Downtown

We happened upon an art fair in the park.

Beekman Street Art District

Four blocks off the fancy downtown area, the Beekman Street artists slowly bring a neglected west side street back to life. We found some beautiful pottery at the potter's co-op and spent a couple of hours in several of the little galleries sitting along the cracked and crumbling sidewalks.

Downtown Horses

These fiberglass horses are part of an outdoor exhibit throughout downtown Saratoga Springs. I think there are 34 horses tucked here and there on street corners, in front of shops, by sidewalk cafes, and other surprising and fun locations.

Roanoke, VA - June 20, 2007

I'll have to finish Roanoke later. It's 12:30 and I better get to bed.

Niagara Falls - June 12, 2007

The Falls
The photos are taken from the Canadian side looking toward the American Falls and Buffalo.
The falls were formed when the ice receded after the Wisconsin glaciation about 10,000 years ago. 20 million tourists are expected for 2007.

Buffalo, NY - June 6, 2007

Downtown Buffalo I'm missing all the "good" photos. Wonder if they're still on my camera? Meanwhile (it's late), I'll post these. Buffalo has a grand architectural history with wonderful buildings to see. Hope I find the other photos for you. More to come......

Kalamazoo, MI - May 20, 2007

The Town Kalamazoo has quite a history - Lincoln's speech in 1856, underground railroad, Indian mounds, the 1980 tornado in downtown, paper mills, a huge celery industry, and a great song! Go ahead. Read a little history.
http://www.kalamazoomi.com/hisf.htm http://www.kpl.gov/collections/LocalHistory/AllAbout/default.aspx#general
The Mall City The nation's first pedestrian mall was built in downtown Kalamazoo in 1959. A few years ago, the city opened the streets to vehicle traffic, but it's still fun to walk around, visit the shops, and enjoy the art.

Art Deco The American National Bank building, in the center of town, is Kalamazoo’s earliest example of Art Deco. Dating to 1929-30 and at fifteen stories, it was, for a long time the tallest building in the county.

I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo Glenn Miller 1942

Read all about the song and

the REAL girl from Kalamazoo http://www.kpl.gov/collections/LocalHistory/AllAbout/general/Gal.aspx

I got a gal in Kalamazoo
Don’t want to boast but I know she’s the toast of Kalamazoo(Zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo)
Years have gone by, my my how she grew
I liked her looks when I carried her books in Kalamazoo (Zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo)
I'm gonna send a wire, hoppin' on a flyer, leavin' today"
Am I dreamin’? I can hear her screamin’"Hiya, Mr. Jackson"Everything’s OK, A-L-A-M-A-Z-OOh, what a gal, a real pipperoo
I’ll make my bid for that freckle-faced kid I’m hurryin’ to
I’m goin’ to Michigan to see the sweetest gal in Kalamazoo(Zoo, zoo)(Zoo, zoo, zoo, Kalamazoo)K (K)A (A)L-A-M-A-Z-O(Oh, oh, oh, oh what a gal, a real pipperoo)(We’re goin’ to Michigan to see the sweetest gal in Kalamazoo)(Zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo)(Kalamazoo!!)

Stevens Point, WI - May 18, 2007

The Town Stevens Point was incorporated in 1858. It got its start when George Stevens used a building on the point to store his equipment for his new saw mill he was builing up river. George and the loggers working the industry stopped here because it was on a point in the Wisconsin River where a long series of rapids began. The milling and paper industries grew on this point because it was easier than hiring river pilots or maneuvering a risky portage to get further up river. 2000 census 24,551.
The River The Wisconsin River is a tributary of the Mississippi. It's about 430 miles long and is the state's longest river.

The Building Murals downtown (except for the Rivermen)
The Market Square mural To read about this mural and find the names of the people in the scene, go to http://stevenspoint.com/murals/index.html
The Rivermen mural This is right across from the Wisonsin River. To see up-close photos of the mural and each of the men (and their names), go to http://stevenspoint.com/murals/index.html

Downtown on the Square

There are a number of neat buildings on the square, but I found that many of them had slap-dash modern signs stuck on the front. This one has been saved!

Village of Boalsburg, PA - April 13, 2007

Village of Boalsburg - Birthplace of Memorial Day

The Diamond, Boalsburg's equivilant of a town square, is a delightful avenue of specialty shops, taverns, and inns. http://www.boalsburgcentral.com/ The sculptures in these photos are in a park near a cemetary about a mile from the Diamond. Here's an article about the Memorial Day history: http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacentre/memory.htm

Lewistown, PA - April 13, 2007

Downtown Lewistown

Lewistown, where I was working, and State College, where I stayed at the hotel, are part of the Pennsylvania Valleys of the Susquehanna region. According to a local web site, "The stretches of farmland in central Pennsylvania begin in the foothills of the Endless Mountains and roll gently southward to meet the Southern Alleghenies. A region of covered bridges, rail trails, and riverboat cruises, the Valleys of the Susquehanna is for romance and adventure." http://www.explorepahistory.com/regions_susquehanna.php

Lewistown is near Lancaster county - Amish country - but it was too early in the season for the Amish markets to open. Maybe I'll get back to this area in the summer. It's a region of small towns, farmlands, and incredible United States history.