Grandparents' Home

We arrived in Corry at 5:15 after a 9 1/2 hour trip, including torrential rains in the Pittsburgh area. Our map indicated that we crossed the Ohio, but we sure did not see it - no drought here. At the PA welcome center on I-79, there is a memorial to 37 Robena miners who died 462 feet below the rest area in 1962. There also are memorabilia such as hats, lanterns and tools contributed by families of some of the deceased.

In Corry, we are staying at the Victoria on Main B&B. As it turns out, this was the house of Mr. Howard of the Howard Tannery, where Euguene Curtis Amidon worked as a carpenter and mechanic. Some of the tannery building still exists across the street, at least for awhile since it is falling apart. Eugene was Mary's great-grandfather, so you figure out his relationship to you, if any. Some of the family residences have been replaced, but one original appears to be 116 Franklin St. This was the home of Cecil and Eloine Walker, and where Mary Melissa Walker grew up. We will return under brighter skies to take a photo. More research and dead-people touring to come.

Corry has seen better days. In the 1800s, it was an industrial railroad town with oil and iron works and several tanneries. It was hit hard by the early-2008 recession, though. We drove 20 miles to find a so-so restaurant that was recommended as much better than those in town.

Mary:  My thoughts are that this town was More Grandma's Lititz-up! It is smaller than Lititz by about half but it is not hard to imagine Grandma and Grandpa growing up here. Pennsylvania roots abound! Uncle Dave says our family came here in 1950 but I mostly remember going to Corning NY on that trip, where we saw glass blowers and I ran back and forth in the back seat, no doubt stepping on siblings' toes!