A Slice of Life
Bill Lites
Day 8 – 7/19/2021
Leaving South Buffalo this morning, I headed southwest on I-90 some 60 miles, skirting along the Lake Erie shoreline, to visit the Barcelona Lighthouse located in Westfield, NY. This lighthouse was built in 1828 and served the Portland Harbor area until 1859 when the lighthouse was deactivated. However, now privately owned, the lighthouse is in working order and still burns to this day.
Now I took US-20 southwest 20 miles along the Lake Erie shoreline, across the border, to visit the Lake Shore Railway Museum located in North East, PA. This museum is housed in the 1899 NYC Railroad Passenger Depot, and displays railroad artifacts and memorabilia dating from 1890s. The museum also has several restored pieces of rolling stock and diesel-electric locomotives dating from 1910.
It was another 15 miles southwest on US-20 to where I visited the Firefighters Historical Museum located in Erie, Pa. This museum is situated in the 1903 Engine Company No.4 station (which replaced the original 1873 Eagle Hose Company station that used only hand-pulled firefighting apparatus) and displays many firefighting artifacts and memorabilia dating from the early 1800s.
Before leaving Erie, I swung by the Eriez Speedway just to see what it was all about. Nothing was going on, but I discovered this 3/8-mile dirt track is the home of the” World of Outlaws Morton Building Late Model Series” races that are scheduled year-around.
Next, I continued southwest 30 miles on US-20, along the Lake Erie shoreline and across another border, to visit the Conneaut Railroad Museum located in Conneaut, OH but it was closed. However, their website informs me that this museum is housed in the former LS&MS Passenger Depot (built in 1900) and displays many railroad artifacts and exhibits dating from the 1800s. Their centerpiece is the restored 1944 Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 steam locomotive #755.
Now it was only 20 miles southwest on US-20 to where I visited the Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum located in Ashtabula, OH. The Museum is housed in the former home of William & Katherine Hubbard. Built in 1841, this house served as the northern end of the ‘Underground Railroad’ that supported escaping slaves from the antebellum South during the pre-Civil War years.
Just a few blocks away I tried to visit the Ashtabula Maritime Museum, but it was closed. So, I turned south 50 miles on SR-11 & SR-45 to my next stop to visit the National Packard Museum located in Warren, OH. This museum is housed in the original 1917 Packard Dealership building and has on display 35 beautifully restored Packard automobiles dating from 1901 to 1956. WOW! What beautiful cars!
Another 20 miles south on US-422/62 I tried to visit the Lanterman’s Mill (grist mill) located in the picturesque Mill Creek Park area in Youngstown, OH but it was closed. Their website has informed me that the mill was built in 1846, providing residents with grains from local grown corn, wheat, and buckwheat until the late 1800s. In 1892 the Mill Creek Park purchased the mill and restored it to its original condition, and it operates today as it did in the mid-1800s.
Next on the list there in Youngstown was a visit to the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry & Labor. This center is dedicated to the history and the people who worked in the local steel industry that dominated Youngstown during the 20th century. Steel industry exhibits, artifacts and photographs tell the engrossing story.
It was another 10 miles south on SR-7 to where tonight’s motel was located in North Lima, OH. When I checked in, I asked the desk clerk for good restaurants in the area, and he said Steamer’s was close. I ordered their Baked Penne & Sausage plate. The room was cold, so I left my iced tea, sunglasses, and a museum brochure on the table while I went to the van for my long-sleeved shirt. When I returned to my table, it had been cleared and my stuff was gone. “What is going on here?” Evidently another server had cleared the table. I don’t know what she was thinking, but now they had to scurry around to find my sunglasses and brochure and bring more iced tea. My meal finally came, and it was excellent.
Photo Credit: https://steamersbakedsusagepenne.com/
—–To Be Continued—–
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is: John 10:10
Old Things R New 