I went to Olean, New York last week to visit my best friend from high school. And had a nostalgia filled day. We went to dinner at the Beef and Barrel and the next morning I drove around my old haunts for a couple of hours. I was surprised how little things had changed. It was really great to see Dave and Kathy again after 45 or so years. We connected as if it had been weeks not decades.
They have put up squirrel art around town. This is the one in the park.
In 1940 Olean had about 40,000 people now it has about 13,000. Like so many of the small towns in the northeast there is a shabby, depressed feel to the downtown. But Houses are cheap and the infrastructure is paid for. Maybe as the baby boomers retire enough of them will move back to revitalize them. Dave and Kathy have and it is working well for them.
How lucky I was to move to California in the 1970’s when everything was growing.
This is the first house we lived in when we moved to Olean from England. It is now a lawyers office.
Olean is a one horse town….. and the horse has moved out!
Perhaps it is a one squirrel town?
I can’t believe the Beef and Barrel is still there! That is were I met the lady with whom I would loose my virginity. The subsequent joyful act occured at the Wolf Creek Scout Camp on a picnic. Did you by chance revisit those stomping grounds old friend?
Kai: Olean is still much the same. I did visit Rock City Park but didn’t get North or East to Portville, Wolf Creek or Cuba Lake. I’ll send you some more pictures separately.