Pixelmaster Loc: New England

Walking down Skenesborough Drive in Whitehall, NY the changes from the past
are very visible. Most of the stores that once held goods and services are no
longer occupied. The silk mill closed down many years ago and the population
continues to dwindle. A few years ago the Catholic Church was demolished with the property becoming a parking lot for a car dealer, The Finch and Chubb Restaurant has closed where once gunpowder was stored in the building in the 1700's. It is not that Whitehall is much different than most other small towns. It is just progress has moved on to where people now shop from their computers at home. This town claimed to be the birth place of the United States Navy. A quick glance at the Lake Champlain battles with the British show how the efforts of Benedict Arnold before he decided to join the enemy resulted in a strategic delay that gave America much needed time.

On my recent visit to the town I came upon this door that must have an interesting
set of tales to tell. Notice the transom curtained window and the three doorbells, Something has been removed from the door and some of the patches may indicate mail delivery slots. It is also apparent the bottom of the needed some replacement
so a brass plate was installed. The building still stands even if those who once
lived there have long departed.

Today you can still find a good reason to visit Skenesborough Drive because
customers come from a distance to visit the Historic Grounds Restaurant which is just next door to the place where people like to gather. Like many other small towns in America there are still many reasons why people continue to live there.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice photo, interesting door. Whitehall sounds just like my town of Alexandria, Indiana.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Upstate NY isn't known for its prosperity. Whitehall, NY is the birthplace of the U. S. Navy.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

Very interesting. Thanks

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Yep. Skenesborough is where Benedict Arnold (before he switched sides) built his small fleet of ships, mostly small gunboats, out of still green wood. They were built mostly by skilled carpenters rather than shipwrights. The small naval Battle of Valcour Island, on Lake Champlain, was part of a delaying action which kept General Burgoyne's army from moving south and allowed the Continental Army the time it needed to prepare to defeat him at Saratoga. Thus it's somewhat accurate claim to be the birthplace of the US Navy.

One of those gunboats, the flat-bottomed gandola Philadelphia, was sunk during the battle. It was raised in the 1930s and can be seen today at the Smithsonian Museum of American History. A modern full-size facsimile, the Philadelphia II, still sails on Lake Champlain from the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Good eye!

jcave Loc: Cecilia, Kentucky

Interesting photo and informative read. Sad to see time taking its toll on bodies and buildings alike.

SaratogaMan

Even the long-standing Roma Restaurant is gone...sadly typical of old, small-town America.

foodie65

[quote=Pixelmaster]Walking down Skenesborough Drive in Whitehall, NY the changes from the past are very visible. ...............................................

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

Interesting door and the setting.