Indiana small towns. Manufacturing and prosperity go hand and hand here. Small towns have suffered population loss, economic loss, and eventually the pride of the communities as manufacturers pull up stakes or close down. This is Main Street, Dunkirk, Indiana, population 2,600. No full grocery, no hardware, no bakery, no coffee shop, no bookstore. But they do have a glass museum, library, post office, two bars, Chrysler car dealer, one family restaurant, one Pizza King, a jewelry store, barber shop, beauty parlor, insurance, banks, and a few other businesses. The architecture was at one time grand, but many buildings are vacant, such as this 1880s opera house. Yes, an opera house out in the middle of nowhere, which is testament to the luxury and extravagence of over 100 years ago. During the late 1800s this town was booming with seven glass manufacturers after natural gas was discovered. The gas was soon wasted by burning huge torches that lit up the night sky for miles around, and most of the glass industry went away by the year 2000 except that beer bottles for Anheuser Busch are made in this town.
The picture is great - very symbolic of our current economic times. And the info is interesting? Have you considered doing newspaper/ magazine articles? You'd be great!
ReplyDeleteAgree with the above poster - wonderful info., and we have always preferred small towns. It is so sad what is happening to them. Their buildings always have more character.
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