SMALL TOWN PENNSYLVANIA VIA HIGHWAY 6

It takes me by surprise when we park in a town, knowing nothing about Towanda, PA, to learn that some famous person once lived and went to school here. In this case it was popular American songwriter,  Stephen Foster.  We spotted a mural about one of his songs, Camptown Races.

They have a festival celebrating Camptown Races, here. A number of his songs are still popular today. I couldn't believe how many I was familiar with. You can check out his story here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Foster
Also, David Wilmot, who was a politician and an advocate of anti-slavery in the newly acquired territories from Mexico. His name is on the official proviso.He practiced law at one time in Towanda. You can learn more about him here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wilmot

Highway 6 through Pennsylvania crosses the Allegheny Mountains and acquaints us with small, historic towns along the way. This building has 1880, as was the custom then, on the building's front piece, like a signature.

 Quite small towns have beautiful old churches indicative of the values of long ago, the mainstay of social life.

Between the corn and clover fields, are plenty of old barns. Hard to photograph as you are whizzing by, but interesting. Makes you want to record them with the camera since they are beginning to deteriorate. Many of them are still in use, full of hay or equipment. Barns, a part of Americana we hate to lose to the steel clad factory farms along with the personable image we retain of the stalwart farmer, the backbone of his community and American rural life.

It was fun to see old Five and Dime stores, a couple of Ben Franklins and a few old Diners like this one at Wellsboro, PA.

It kind of makes you yearn for simpler times to see this part of America. Its nice to have the ability to do this in retirement. And, of course, I'm making mental notes of places I would revisit and spend more time.
I also like to photograph signs, if I can. I wasn't able to catch them with my camera, but here they are:
DUI YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT.
ACTIVE DUI AREA
TARGETED ENFORCEMENT
SNOWMOBILE CROSSING
At Denton we crossed through a ski area. The Alleghenies are scenic and we enjoyed our 150 mile drive to Smethport.