The Ghost in the Machine

Some of the traditional sounds you remember as a kid might be the popping of popcorn in Hills Department Store. Some might recall the whistle of the trains rolling across the 19th St. tracks. As Erie goes through the many transitions over the years we see companies like Zurn and Lord Corporations turn into that same ghost that Hammermill Paper has become in these parts. Our only newspaper just recently gave in to the syndicated conglomerates after being owned by the Mead family for over a hundred years.

I remember the hot food section in Super Duper that my grandma loved to take me to get that hot fish wrapped in the tin foil. And I also remember when the last stores closed in that Hills Plaza which included Beer and Pop, Festival Foods, Ames and the Chinese Restaurant (if you remember the name let me know your paying attention by leaving a comment) As these stores all closed there was a period of time it was empty before it became Walmart. They had for lease signs that I remember because I inquired about the old Festival Foods building they wanted 1.7 million for that building. The point I'm getting to is the spending power we have along with local entrepreneurs had the opportunity to make that Plaza anything you wanted it to be. Same story with the Central Mall , another blown opportunity. If there is nothing here people will continue to take their dollars up to Summit Township, Millcreek and even out of town. The population will continue to decrease to numbers way below one hundred thousand. Who would have imagined the All American City to reach population lows that we haven't seen since the depression of the 1920's ? As we sit back and not pool our resources the sound of the Ghost in the Machine will get louder and louder until it actually becomes a Ghost Town. 

WAKE UP AND STOP THE HATE 

~DAJOURNALIST~

If you didn't know now u know

And knowing is half the battle