Posted October 2, 201410 yr Had several hours on Monday while my 14-year-old man-cat Dusty went to see a specialist in Copley on Monday. So I drove over to Kent, walked around and had lunch.... This is Dusty, as sweet, cool and handsome as any cat there is: https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-8/10255093_10201976236562378_3452626278828453959_o.jpg Of course I'm going to start off Kent with a train station! This is the Erie Railroad station in Kent (aka Pufferbelly), built in 1878. Kent was a crew-change point and many workers popped into the Venice Cafe (at right) after their runs for a drink or meal. https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t31.0-8/10700444_10201994132169757_5512577069448920974_o.jpg And of course I'm going to have a train in it. This is CSX's Baltimore-Chicago mainline (train is westbound), below the ex-Erie RR tracks at right and Erie station. Remnants of the old Penn-Ohio canal (Akron-New Castle) which lasted from 1840-1872 were revealed when a dam in the Cuyahoga River was removed just below Main Street (the bridge undergoing repairs).... https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t31.0-8/10636751_10201994097688895_6269926725836705334_o.jpg This is what the Erie Depot looked like in the 1950s & 60s (this mural is on a downtown Kent building, seen in an alley off South Water Street): https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t31.0-8/10012641_10201994379975952_821128292263629993_o.jpg This is what it looks like from the same vantage point today: https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t31.0-8/1412441_10201994381896000_4160871185096755611_o.jpg Went on my first date in 1988 at The Loft while I went to school at Kent State University. Back then, a medium pizza at The Loft was $2.50. So was a pitcher of beer. I was cheap date.... https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t31.0-8/10467024_10201994116929376_1772194463446075327_o.jpg More of old downtown Kent: New downtown Kent: https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t31.0-8/10333363_10201994371495740_6833259212416146455_o.jpg Old downtown Kent: https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t31.0-8/1795163_10201994372775772_8774960924038234280_o.jpg New downtown Kent: And finally, Dubois Books is where I bought my first college textbooks (by writing my first check!) in 1985, across South Lincoln from Kent State University. I lived for four years just down Lincoln at Oak Haven Condos (still standing). The same will soon not be the case for Dubois Books which will be razed for a classically designed alumni center. https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t31.0-8/10521730_10201997905064077_5046444290732941365_o.jpg This is the new alumni center (article: http://www.wksu.org/news/story/40488).... Thanks for going back to Kent with me, however briefly! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
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